GS3 Weekly [9th 14th Feb 2015] [The Undercover group] (Insightsonindia.com)

Topic: Basics of money laundering and its prevention.

Q) Indias emerging status as a regional financial centre,its large system of informal cross

border money flows,and its widely perceived tax avoidance problems all contribute to

countrys vulnerability to money laundering problems. Critically comment. (200 Words)

http://www.thehindu.com/business/black-money-in-stock-markets-sebi-to-suspend-shell-

companies/article6871176.ece

Ans- According to a CBDT Report in 2012 commercial tax evasion by under-reporting

revenues and inflating expenses by various business entities and criminal transactions

account for about 60% and 35% of the black money(BM) being generated in India

respectively. Corruption on the other hand is responsible for a meager 5% of the total

amount, even though it is the most publicized.

The major reasons behind such large-scale prevalence of money laundering activities are the

ineffectiveness of Indias tax regime alongwith its rapid economic growth. The real estate

sector is the primary destination of BM, mainly due to the large property transaction costs

and bureaucratic hassles associated with it. The relative porosity of our borders is

responsible for the smuggling of gold, fake currency etc. which eventually adds to the BM

generation.

However, the inadequacies of the financial system and border security are not the only

factors responsible. The absence of an effective monitoring mechanism, such as the USAs

Patriot Act which requires Americans to report foreign transactions above a certain limit, a

strict punitive regime and the prevalence of various amnesty measures have prevented the

creation of credible deterrence mechanisms.

The MC Joshi Committee report on BM (2012) had suggested various measures such as

strengthening the PoCA, setting up of an all-India judicial service and a National Tax

Tribunal, compulsory reporting of large global transactions etc. to curb the menace of BM.

Revamping the tax laws to encourage people to pay taxes by reducing the rates, introducing

a banking transaction tax and speeding up the process of liberalization are other measures

which can be adopted.

Topic: Security challenges & their management in border areas;;

Q) The proper management of Indias borders ,which is vitally important to national

security presents many challenges and includes coordination and concerted action by the

administrative,diplomatic,security,intelligence,legal,regulatory and economic agencies of

the country to secure the frontiers and sub-serve its best interests. Elucidate. (200 Words)

http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-international/n-korea-fires-short-range-

missiles/article6872382.ece

Ans- National security requires concerted action of all individuals of this nation and not only

government agencies.Similarly, management of Indian borders is not only the responsibility

of armed forces but also other administrative/diplomatic/intelligence/legal/ regulatory

agencies.

Administrative agencies like local administration and police has a great role in motivating

and influencing local public support against any illegal action across border.Unless local

support is not available, armed forces will find very difficult to manage borders.ex-

Rajasthan,punjab, UP borders

Diplomacy plays an important role in maintaining peace at international borders.ex- during

Nepal's political crisis after end of aristocracy, Indian diplomats handled situation carefully

and prevented any major effect on Indo-Nepal relations.

Armed forces along with internal and external intelligence agencies are the major factors for

stable borders.ex- militants entering from pakistan,Nepal, bangladesh,bhutan borders have

been successfully tackled by concerted efforts of central and state armed police forces,

Army, IB, RAW.

legal authority though do not have direct effect on border management but they help

armed forces in proper maintenance of disturbed region.ex-AFSPA allows immediate action

on basis of valid suspicion by armed forces in disturbed region without going into

administrative loops.This helps in immediate action and elimination of threat without

compromising security.

Frontiers are also at threat by transaction of illegal money, fake currency, drugs, arms etc

Regulatory and economic agencies provide proper guidelines to makes sure of any loop

holes being closed.ex- strong anti narcotics and smuggling law along with RBI's initiatives to

ban illegal/black money and fake currency.

India's unique feature of few not so good neighbours has resulted in growing divisive

elements along with drug addiction,fake currency and other menaces in society which can

be fought only by united efforts by all individual person and government in this country.

Topic: poverty and developmental issues (also Paper-3 planning)

Q) Write short notes on drought-prone area programme and agro-climatic planning. How do

these programmes help in the development of dryland agriculture in India? (150 Words)

http://www.ncert.nic.in/NCERTS/textbook/textbook.htm?legy2=9-12

Ans- DPAD is region specific developmental plan where the rain- fall is less than 75 cms and

does not has any reliable water resource, ( india's 2/3rd area comes under this i.e plateau

interiors)

its main component are-

1) promotion of region specific development i.e diversification of agricultural income for e.g-

animal husbandry etc.

2) sustainble techniques such as rain water harvesting, water shed management are

promoted.

in the same way Agro-climatic planning was promoted by planning commission for

promotion of growing of those crops which are naturally suitable for that area. The major

objectives of this are-

1) building capacity of local resident and imparting information so that suitable crops can be

grown.

2) Providing avenues for profit maximization like diversification of agricultural income.

As our country's 75 % area is semi-arid so the need for these two can be be over-

emphasized, they help by-

1) by imparting knowledge regarding available resources and there use.

2) most importantly they promote local led development i.e demand driven.

3) success stories such as of-

a) ralegaon siddhi ,b) hivere bajar in maharastra and c) sukhomajari in haryana is e.g of

success of dry land farming due to effectiveness of the above two

Topic: Infrastructure

Q) Explain the advantages of water transport. Discuss the challenges faced by water

transport sector in India. (150 Words)

NCERT

Ans- There are 2 types of water transport. Inland(through rivers, lakes and canals) and

Ocean(coastal and overseas shipping).

Advantages of water transport :

1. cost : Rivers and oceans are natural and does not require any cost of construction. even

the maintenance cost is less as compared to roadways and airways.

2. capacity : Heavy and bulky goods can be transported easily at a little cost through water

transport.

3.Power requirement : comparatively less tractive power is required for its operation which

results in a lesser cost of operation.

4. It is indispensable to foreign trade.

5. During natural calamities like floods, etc. when rail or road transport is disrupted, water

transport alone is possible.

Challenges faced by the water transport sector in India :

-- It is the least preferred mean of transport because of the time factor.

-- It is susceptible to ocean calamities.

-- seasonal characteristics of river - water may freeze during winter or the water level may

go down during summers. sometimes the river changes its course causing dislocation in

normal route.

-- not suitable for small businesses.

-- construction of canals reduces the volume of water in the rivers (effects peninsular rivers

as they are rain dependent)

-- government has not put too much effort in the water transport sector, hence it is lagging

in infrastructure.

India has huge scope for water transport with a large part of it covering the Indian ocean

and so many rivers in the main land. Water transport can help trade a lot and it should be

used with its full potential.

Topic: Indian economy

Q) Critically comment on the issue of black money and the efforts made by the union

government to address various aspects related to black money. (200 Words)

The Hindu

Ans- Black money(BM) generation has been one of the most persistent and destructive

problems associated with our economic growth primarily due to the inability of the

government to effective tackle the issue over the years inspite of numerous domestic and

foreign reports on the menace. This has resulted in the formation of a shadow economy

which has been estimated to be around 23-26% of the entire economy.

One of the first methods employed by the Indian government to recover unaccounted

money was the Voluntary Disclosure of Income(VDI) in 1951. In 1981 the Central

government had officially recognized the prevalence of illicit money in the Indian economy

and decided to float Special Bearer Bonds(SBB). Although the VDI Scheme has been largely

successful, the SBB scheme has been criticized for allowing BM owners to escape

punishment.

To deal with the hoarding of BM in tax-havens, the Centre has signed numerous DTAA with

foreign countries like Switzerland and Mauritius and TIEA with countries like Bahamas and

Bermuda. It has also set up various units such as the CBDT(cross-border transactions and

transfer pricing), ED(enforces FERA/FEMA), FIU(suspect transactions) etc. The Centre had

also appointed the MC Joshi Committee(2012) on BM to study the generation and curbing

of BM.

Although these steps have been progressive and have shown results in the past year,

especially after the formation of the SIT by the new government, various roadblocks exist in

the recovery of BM from foreign countries. In addition to continuing talks with foreign

governments on this issue, the Centre should strengthen existing laws such as PoCA,

PoMLA, Whistleblowers Act etc. to deter BM generation within the country

Topic: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation,

Q) With suitable examples, critically examine the nature of threats being faced by wildlife in

India as a result of governments developmental policy measures. If a drinking water project

benefits thousand poor human beings but severely affects ten endangered crocodiles,

should this project be implemented? Justify. (200 Words)

The Hindu

Ans- Most basic and integral part of development is building up necessary infrastructure

such as roads, railways, telecom network and exploiting natural resources via mining,

fishing, timber, drinking water schemes, hydro development for the good

of people.

Recent govt's thrust on infrastructure generation threatens wildlife in following manner:

1. Genetic bottleneck: to serve irrigation & flood control needs thrust on barrage

construction will restrict free movement of Ganges River Dolphin in Ganga-Brahmaputra

river system; adversely affecting their breeding; ultimately threatening their existence.

2. Habitat loss: proposed drinking water scheme by Telangana state govt. in Adilabad

district threatens crocodile habitat in Godavari river.

3. land reclamation: from wet lands & riverine habitats for agriculture & urban

development threatens migratory and non-migratory species such as Siberian Crane & Great

Indian Bustard.

4. power generation: thrust on hydro development in north east to tap its vast hydropower

potential threatens species in eastern Himalayan foothills; Sumatran Rhino & Javan Rhino

are already extinct.

5. Union Govt.'s decision to reduce fishing ban period in EEZ on west coast; will lead to

overfishing; threatens fish species.

6. Habitat fragmentation: caused by roads & railways development; hampers breeding of

fauna.

For implementation of any developmental scheme, its pros & cons must be evaluated; if

some proposed drinking water scheme benefits millions but threatens native fauna then

1. Efforts should be made to relocate the particular specie.

2. Increase public spending to develop requisite habitat in some other area through

afforestation & water shed management programmes etc.

If no options are available then scheme should not be implemented; it is high time our flora

& fauna is given due value.

Topic: Achievements of Indians in science & technology;

Q) Developing methods for alternative delivery of drugs has gained importance considering

the large number of infections that are spread through contaminated, non-sterilised

syringes. Examine why using non-sterilised syringes is dangerous and also examine latest

developments in finding alternatives to syringes. (200 Words)

The Hindu

Ans- Responsible for the eradication of smallpox, the virtual elimination of polio, and the

dramatic drop in measles mortality rates, vaccines have made a remarkable contribution to

global public health.

In low-income countries, however, where low sanitation is the norm, they have also been a

major cause of death.

While vaccinations save two million lives per year, the unclean syringe is responsible for

30% of Hepatitis B and C infections, and 1.3 million deaths worldwide per year.

The dangers associated with use of non-sterilised syringes include:

1. can lead to spread of bloodborne diseases like Hep B, Hep C, HIV etc

2. Sterilization requires temperature of 121C for 20 minutes. However, healthcare workers

must have access to sterilization equipment and proper training since inadequate

sterilization can result in the transmission of disease.

3. It poses a threat not only to the patients but also to medical,para medical and health care

workers

However , Use of disposable syringes also is a problem since it generates a huge amount of

Biomedical waste and the disposal of sharps needs special containers and accessibility to

these may not be there. Hence the need to find alternatives to syringes. The developments

in this context include :

1. Use of Auto-disposable(AD) syringes: a one time use syringe. Eliminates the black market

that is associated with disposable syringes

2. NFIs(neeedle-free injectors): NFI drives liquid through a nozzle orifice creating a high-

velocity liquid jet that punctures the skin and delivers the drug below the skin

3. Recently, the researchers at IIS designed a biocapsule made up of a polymer spermidine

dextran sulphate ,loaded with insulin/antibiotic and placed at the infection site and

triggered by micro-shock waves.

However, these developments are still in the pipeline and not available for all injectable

medicines. Hence proper on-site segregation,use of needle burners,cutters after use and

proper disposal is the need of the hour.

Topic: Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday

life

Q) Explain the principle behind functioning of space telescope. Also explain why worlds

largest telescopes are built on higher elevations. (150 Words)

The Hindu

Ans- Various telescopes work by capturing a specific light in the broad spectrum of

electromagnetic radiation (visible light, infrared, x-rays, microwaves etc.) either through

reflecting or refraction. Principles of Space telescope are not different from ground

telescopes. It can be a reflecting or refracting telescope basic principle it to

collect more and more light and

converge it to the focal point

e.g. Hubble telescope which uses Cassegrain reflector, it has two mirrors, one primary

concave mirror and another convex secondary mirror. So light entering the telescope is

collected by primary mirror and reflected onto secondary convex mirror which converges it

on the sensors.

Since the earth's atmosphere distorts, scatters, absorbs and blurs the light entering it so an

ideal place to capture light would be out of earth's atmosphere or from high altitudes where

atmosphere is less dense. That is the reason why ISRO has it observatory in Himalayas to

minimise these atmospheric effects

Topic: Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc.

Q) If you are asked to advice Indias railway ministry on how to mobilize financial resources

without hiking railway fares, what suggestions will you make and why? Explain. (200 Words)

Business Standard

Ans- Railway is lifeline of Indian Economic system. On one hand it commutates millions

people everyday mostly from poor rungs and on the other hand it is mired with serious lack

of funds for improvisation in services. Some Suggestions to mobilize Financial Resources

without hiking the railway fares:

(1.) Increasing the number of trains in the routes which are very busy and overcrowded. This

will generate positive revenue from already setup infrastructure.

(2.) After testing the safety and detailed study from various aspect, Raise the speed of all

trains by 20kms. Right now all trains are running underspeed. Raising speed will lessen,

provide leeway for newer train in tracks and decrease cost of electricity as a fuel.

(3.) Services like Railway track, station cleaning, parking maintenance, crossing operation

and other fourth grade jobs to private firms with strict instruction and penalty provision. It

will bring efficiency, save costs of operations and save energy of railway to focus on other

tasks.

(4.) Stepwise phasing out from maintaing Railway hospitals, museum, schools, colonies and

transfer its control to Government of PPP model. Because Railway spends a good financial

and man power to maintain them.

(5.) Increasing automation and computerisation toward small process like shunting, railway

line switching, announcements, teller machines etc to save man power allocated to such

services.

(6.) Better safety/security management to save ex-gratia paid during accidents mishap.

Invovling third party Insurance for such mishaps.

(7.) Introducing PPP provision in a better and more inclusive way through e-auctioning. Like

Infra bond, Railway can issue Rail-bond with fixed interest rate to invite investment. It will

peg railways liabilities and government will treat Railway as MNC rather than nations

workhorse.

This steps may seems of lesser significance but if implemented with determination, it will

bring extra funds of considerable scale

Topic: Infrastructure: ports

Q) Describe the composition of export and import trade of India and the role of ports in it.

(150 Words)

NCERT

Ans- India is a very old participant in world trade.

Export consists of Plantation Crops, Agriculture and Allied Products, Ores and Minerals,

Leather and Leather Manufactures, Gems and Jewellery, Chemical and Related Products,

Engineering Goods, Textiles, Handicrafts and Carpets, Cotton Raw Including Waste.

Import Consists of Fertilizers, Petroleum Crude and Products, Pearls, Precious and Semi-

Precious Stones, Organic and In-organic Chemical.

Importance of Ports:

1. Approximately 95 percent of Indias trade by volume is transported by sea.

2. Total sea-borne trade of India, more than 85 per centers shared by Mumbai, Kolkata,

Cochin, Chennai and Visakhapatnam.

3. The average ship-borne traffic in India is 700 million tonnes per annum

Indias 12 major ports are expected to double their annual cargo handling capacity to 1,600

million tonnes (MT) within the next five years.

Besides foreign trade, ports play an important role in internal trade. Inland water transport

in India carries about 16 million tonnes of goods each year.

With 7500 kms coastline and 14,500 kms rivers, port play most vital role in India's economic

growth.

Topic: Indian economy

Q) Critically comment why decontrol of urea prices, fewer subsidised cylinders a year and

withdrawal of kerosene from the public distribution system (PDS) are considered as

economic reforms. (200 Words)

The Hindu

Ans- Subsidies are like spoonfeeding a child. It is useful in infant stage because child is not

capable of self-developing himself, But continuing spoonfeeding a child is harmful for his all

round development and also for parents as they cant engage in other activities which are

more important. Hence, phasing out subsidies slowly is what is required as one of the

Economic Reforms.

Decontroling the price in economy means, leaving the price control to the dynamics of

market rather than artificially lowering the price by providing backdoor subsidies.

Why Decontrolling the price is required as Economic Reforms:

Urea:

(1.) Most of subsidised urea are collected by rich and bigger farmer and never reach

marginal farmer.

(2.) Major part of urea reaches to Bangaladesh, Burma and Nepal through blackmarketting.

Also, Chemical industries uses this urea as their raw material.

(3.) Over use of urea leads to Eutrophication, pollutes water bodies, deoxygenate water and

hence deplete diversity of marine life in rivers.

(4.) Urea subsidy is opposed by WHO because it distorts real price of crops.

(5.) Continous use led to depleted nutrients for what urea is not providing.

Hence Urea subsidy should phase out. NBS is a good step toward it.

Fewer Cylinder to each family:

(1.) Many subsidised cylinder end to restaurents, hotels, LPG kit to cars and black market.

(2.) Oil companies are not achieving their potential and losing on their economic edge

against private companies.

(3.) Use of subsidized gas by gas power plant is also non scientific and ecological

unsustainable.

Hence it should be limited to 6-9 cylinders per year.

Kerosene at PDS:

(1.) Though Kerosene is an outdated fuel but still some fraction of population in rural areas

use it for lighting and cooking. But providing kerosene to everyone is not efficiency. All

kerosene ends up in blackmarket for adulterating the diesel, fueling pumps in fields,

Smuggled to neighbouring nations.

(2.) Rural populations these days are also electrified so no need to give subsidised kerosene,

instead solar lamps can be distributed.

Hence solving such basic issues and phasing out subsidy is a big step toward bridging fiscal

deficit and bringing economci reforms.

Topic: Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday

life

Q) Recently scientists reported that obesity should be recognised as a chronic and an

often treatment-resistant disease with both biological and behavioural causes. What do

you understand by this? Examine its implications. (150 Words)

The Hindu

Ans- Around the world, the prevalence of obesity has nearly doubled in thee last decade.

Being overweight or obese significantly increases the risk of multiple debilitating diseases

including cardiovascular disease, atherosclerosis, high blood pressure etc.

For many obese individuals, the struggle to achieve a healthy body weight becomes a

veritable battle against biology as a number of metabolic processes promote weight gain

despite genuine efforts to decrease food consumption and increase energy expenditure

Scientific investigations have shed light on the biology of weight loss in recent times. It turns

out the battle against the bulge is much more complex than the overly simplistic eat less

food to lose weight message. It is a long term phenomenon and termed as a disease

since it cannot be cured with frontline methods.

Its implications include:

1. once someone has had obesity for an extended period of time, that weight becomes

biologically stamped in.

2. if an obese person manages to shed weight and remain trim, the obesity is said to be in a

state of remission

3. once established, the biological adaptations have an insidious way of inducing increased

calorie consumption and storage of fat to protect an individuals highest sustained weight.

Hence the solution for this problem lies in a holistic approach to weight management. The

options include use of anti-obesity drugs, surgical treatment in morbidly obese and

preventing further weight gain in overweight people to avoid obesity.

Topic: e-technology in the aid of farmers

Q) Write a note on the importance of and role played by the Indian Council of Agricultural

Research (ICAR) in ensuring farm mechanisation in India. (150 Words)

The Hindu

Ans- Indian council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) is an autonomous apex body responsible

for the organisation and management of research and education in the field of agriculture,

animal science, agro forestry, fisheries and allied sciences.

Mechanisation refers to improved tool and implement of machinery that supplement and

substitute human labour, enhances workers output, avoids drudgery and stresses etc.

Currently in agriculture sector of India, the production costs are rapidly increasing while

eroding the profit margin of farmers. Hence there is a need of farm mechanisation to reduce

costs, enhance productivity and efficiency. Thus in order to keep agriculture economically

viable ICAR has reorganised itself in 1965. With its success in Green revolution, it has taken

many vital steps towards a sustainable farm mechanisation in India.

1). It is working towards developing need-based and region specific engineering

technologies and is engaged in planning, co-ordination and monitoring of R&D programmes

in a national and international level.

2) It has developed many improved machinery such as laser and leveller, self-propelled

sprayers, precision seeders and planters, harvesters for cereals and sugarcane etc.

3) It has introduced gender friendly tools for reduction in the drudgery for women farm

workers.

4) With a nation-wide vast network, it is engaged with many mass awareness programme

related to new farm technologies. Ex: Lab to Land programme, recently set up of modern

mechanised farm units.

Topic: Role of external state and non-state actors in creating challenges to internal security.

Q) India considers the expanding footprint of extremist and terror organisations in Pakistan,

and their link with various terror activities in India, is a major security challenge. In this

regard, what are all the options that India has pursued to address this security challenge?

Critically evaluate them. (200 Words)

The Hindu

Ans- Intro : --1) Pak distinguishes b/w Good nd Bad terrorism. Good terrorism is considered

as a tool along with army, ISI to fight with India.

2) Many terrorist organizations based in pak (mostly operating from POK, Punjab region

prominient of them are LET, Jaish e Mohammad, Jamaat-e Islami, Jammat Ud dawa etc.)

3) Another angle:: Increasingly Taliban now expanding its footprints in Pak. which may

destabilise whole of south Asia. so again an emerging gr8 challenge for india. As Taliban is

ideologically extremist organization.

4) Link of Indian terrorist organizations like Indian Muzahiddin, SIMI to pakistan-- Training,

funds, motivation etc.

India's efforts to tackle this emerging security challenge ::

1) Stepped up Internal security especially after Mumbai(26/11) like Indian Coast Guard, NIA,

More wings of NSG, Yearly State Police chiefs meet specially discuss all these emerging

challenges so state-state cooperation is very important that's why the need of NCTC

emerges.

2) Border Area Devp. :: Border Fencing, More effective watch on infiltration,

3) Checking extremism in Natives :: -- Through special welfare progams for surrendered

native terrorists (Himayat- J&K).

4) Defence cooperation and intelligence sharing-- like US.

Criticism of India's approach in tackling the situation::

1) Even after all these measures India has failed to tackle terror incidents in country. Our

approach has been post terror mgmt instead of mitigation. Porous borders with Nepal,

Bangladesh, Myanmar provides safe passage to Pak based terrorists in India to carry out

terror operations.

2)Link of J&K Terror grps with Pak :: still 100s of terrorists are hiding in sopore, Bandipore

(South Kashmir especially) which intermittantly attack on Indian security establishment.

Recent attack on a Colonel is testimony to it. Hundreds of our jawan dies every year in such

covert operations.

Solution ::

1) More effective approach, better intelligence sharing b/w security agencies, modern tools

with security agencies.

2) International pressure on Pak to stop such covert activities.

3) More aggresive postures on border what Modi govt. is currently doing (i.e. Peace from

the position of strength :) ).

Topic: Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday

life

Q) The recent report of the High-Level Committee for reviewing environmental laws has a

misplaced focus on speedy project clearances and wrongly attributes their delays to

environmental laws. Critically examine. (200 Words)

The Hindu

Ans- A High-Level Committee was constituted to review a list of Environmental acts

administered by the Min. Of Environment, Forest and ClimateChange(MoEF&CC). With

proposals for amending some existing Acts so as to bring them in line with the requirements

of various pending project clearances creates a cloud over the actual purpose of the HLC.

Concerns over some Recommendations-

1. Identify and specify No Go forest areas with

70% canopy (apart from protected area)-This classification is detrimental for the effective

evaluation of any forest with low canopy as it may have dense cover earlier, thus it will

reduce the actual forest estimates.

2. Economic incentives for promoting treeland as distinct forest encourage forest

diversion.

3. Compensatory Afforestation and Net Payment Value (NPV) payment will further enhance

forest diversion which cant be restored.

4. Proposed amendment to the Schedule Tribes and The Traditional Forest Dwellers

(Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 to remove the precondition for approval from Gram

Sabha in case of linear projects; which is a bold move against the very existence of the

democratic decentralised system.

5. Proposed amendments to the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 to dilute the mandatory

central permission into a situational one.

6. Special treatment for linear projects, Power,mining, strategic border projects and

creation of new Umbrella law Environment Laws for Management Act(ELMA) for setting

up National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) and State Environmental

Management Authority (SEMA) in National and State level respectively for full time

clearance and monitoring agencies and induction of utmost good faith will induce

discontent among the forest dwellers.

Some positive aspects of the Recommendations-

-incorporation of noise pollution as an offence in EPA.

-creation of appellate tribunal for appeals.

-Judicial review role for National Green Tribunal.

-creation of Env. Reconstruction Fund.

-Green Awareness prog. In primary and secondary schools.

-banning plastic and polythene inside sanctuaries.

With the notion of Development identified by industrial and mining project and revamped

Single Window approval procedure for ensuring time-bound and speedy clearances, the

laws will not encourage the protection of the environment, but only introduce degradation

to environments if implemented. So it should be re-evaluated before putting the ideas into

legislatures.

Topic: Indian economy employment

Q) Recent efforts made by information technology (IT) majors in India to

terminate large number of their employees in order to cut costs brings to the fore

the necessity of forming employee unions and also highlights the fact that the

growth of Indias IT industry is over. Critically analyse. (200 Words)

Frontline Ans- In the last two decades IT industry has emerged as a glamor industry for youngsters employing about 6mn people. But it has also some problems such as

a) Low pay scale for freshers

b) Job insecurity

c) Pyramidal structure of work force

Recently large number of emplyees were laid off and terminated with very short notice.

Such unethical practices are not new and worst part is lack an organization lobby to

promote employees interest often makes companies take unilateral decisions. To give

voice to these employees, trade unions could be a way; in fact many localized trade

unions have already

been formed.

But trade has its own issues:

1) Demand for unrealistic high wage and service condition will take away the competitive

edge that this industry hold globally bringing the doom.

2) The industry itself spends huge sum ( as per surveys) in employees training and skill

upgradement to keep them employed.

3) The pay scale and work condition are certainly the best among any other fields.

Thus instead of trade unions, an effective grievance redressal mechanism established by

law

will serve the purpose well.

Regarding the growth of IT industry, I dont agree that its good days are over for

following

reasons:

1. US economy is recovering which is the major importer of our services

2. EU, especially major economies are doing well. The FTA also is in advanced stage of

conclusion

3. New methods such as providing service in other languages, focus on product rather

than service will help us explore new untapped market.

Topic: Achievements of Indians in science & technology; indigenization of

technology and developing new technology.

Q) Recently researchers at the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and

Biotechnology (ICGEB) in Delhi found a drug candidate that prevented TB and

malaria pathogens from infecting human blood cells. Examine the importance and

implications of this breakthrough for India. (200 Words)

The Hindu Ans- India suffers disproportionately from the burden of infectious diseases given the confluence of existing environmental, socio-economic, and demographic factors. In the

recent past, India has seen outbreaks emerging and re-emerging diseases in various

parts of the country,malaria and TB being most important among them.

The recent breakthrough is important because:

1. Disease burden : Will reduce mortality,morbidity caused due to TB and Malaria

2. Health:

Would ease the threat of emerging forms of tb like MDR,XDR and TDR which are life

threatening

Will also benefit PLWAs since they would be less prone to co-infection

Would reduce the incidence of childhood TB and hence the vicious cycle of

malnutrition and reduced immunity

With easy availability of drugs the complications of malaria like cerebral malaria etc

would reduce.

Will aid in national vector borne diseases control programme

3. Economic :

indigenously prepared drugs will come at a cheaper cost for the patients

will reduce indian anti-tb drug imports

the implications of such a move are multi-sectoral :

International such low cost drugs can also be used in africa and other tropical

countries to reduce mortality due to malaria and tb

Scientific community successful indigenous research will attract talent towards

research and prevent brain drain

Private sector- will get a boost for further investment in R&D

Tropical diseases researchby pharma companies will increase

It is indeed a breakthrough and similar developments in this direction will make india a

meaningful actor and partner in the global fight against infectious diseases and

promotion of global health.

Topic: Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in

everyday life

Q) A few days ago social media giant Facebook launched internet.org in India

with an intention of providing internet for free to all sections of population. But

this also has given rise to many concerns among various stakeholders. Critically

examine these concerns. (200 Words)

The Hindu

Ans

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