Category: Ranker Webinars

Topics for Today’s questions:

GS-1            Modern Indian history from about the middle of the eighteenth century until the present – significant events, personalities, issues.

GS-2          Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies.

GS-3          Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.

GS-4        Public/Civil service values and Ethics in Public administration: Status and problems; ethical concerns and dilemmas in government and private institutions

Question 1)

Q.1 Systems and institutions created by the British colonial government in India were a result of British economic interests in India. Elaborate. (10 Marks)

Question 2)

Q.2 Highlighting the maladies that the quasi-judicial courts in India suffer from, suggest ways to streamline their work. (10 Marks)

Question 3)

Q.3 Underline factors responsible for poor solid waste management in Indian cities. In what ways can the trinity of citizens, businesses, and the governments tackle this hazard. (15 Marks)

Question 4)  

Q.4 Civil servants often face a crisis of conscience when fulfilling their official duties. In your opinion, what are the reasons for such crisis? How can they be resolved? (10 Marks)

HOW TO ATTEMPT ANSWERS IN DAILY ANSWER WRITING ENHANCEMENT(AWE)?

1. Daily 4 questions from General studies 1, 2, 3, and 4 will be provided to you.

2. A Mentor’s Comment will be available for all answers. This can be used as a guidance tool but we encourage you to write original answers.

3. You can write your answer on an A4 sheet and scan/click pictures of the same.

4.  Upload the scanned answer in the comment section of the same question.

5. Along with the scanned answer, please share your Razor payment ID, so that paid members are given priority.

6. If you upload the answer on the same day like the answer of 11th  February is uploaded on 11th February then your answer will be checked within 72 hours. Also, reviews will be in the order of submission- First come first serve basis

7. If you are writing answers late, for example, 11th February is uploaded on 13th February , then these answers will be evaluated as per the mentor’s schedule.

8. We encourage you to write answers on the same day. However, if you are uploading an answer late then tag the mentor like @Staff so that the mentor is notified about your answer.

*In case your answer is not reviewed, reply to your answer saying *NOT CHECKED*. 

1. For the philosophy of AWE and payment: 

Context

• Silicon Valley’s tough times continue with Amazon expected to enforce job cuts that could impact close to 10,000 employees.
• Amazon’s layoffs come after other major tech companies, such as Meta, Twitter, Snap, and Microsoft, have already implemented such measures.
• A few days before that Twitter led by its new owner Elon Musk also witnessed mass layoffs.

Lay-off crisis is grappling India too

• The biggest technology companies are bracing for troubled times ahead as the Covid-19 induced acceleration and growth has not kept pace.
• With talks of global recession, technology companies, typically seen as big spenders, are now resorting to cost-cutting.
• Indian Startups have also faced this trouble with media reports saying that approximately ten thousand employees have been laid off by startups in mainly edtech and ecommerce sectors this year.

Forced layoffs and restructuring have become common strategies for companies struggling to compete. So what is the reason for this Lay-Off crisis, its impact and how is it expected to play out in the future.

What one means by Lay-Off?

• A layoff is the temporary or permanent termination of employment by an employer for reasons unrelated to the employee’s performance.
• Employees may be laid off when companies aim to cut costs, due to a decline in demand for their products or services, seasonal closure, or during an economic downturn.
• When laid off, employees lose all wages and company benefits but qualify for unemployment insurance or compensation (typically in USA).

Why do companies resort to layoffs?

• Cost reduction: One of the main reasons why workers get laid off is because the company decides to cut back on costs in some way. The need can arise from the fact that the company is not making enough profits to cover its expenses or because it needs substantial extra cash to address paying off debt.
• Staffing redundancies: Layoffs also occur when a company needs to eliminate some positions due to over-staffing, outsourcing, or a modification to the roles.  A company may want to eliminate redundant positions in order to make its operations more efficient.  
• Relocation: Moving the company’s operations from one area to another can also bring about the need to let go of some workers. Shutting down the initial location will not only affect the workers who get laid off but the surrounding community’s economy as well.
• Merger or buyout: If a business is bought out or decides to merge with another, the change might lead to a change in the company’s leadership and corporate direction. If there’s new management, the chances are that they’ll come up with new goals and plans, and this can lead to layoffs.  

Immediate triggers of Lay-Off

• Pandemic Boom: During the pandemic, there was a surge in demand as people were in lockdown and they were spending a lot of time on the internet. The overall consumption saw an upsurge following which the companies went to increase their output to meet the market requirements.
• Over hiring during pandemic: In order to meet the demands, many tech companies went on a hiring spree anticipating the boom to continue even after the pandemic. However, as the curbs were eased and people started stepping out of their homes, consumption fell, resulting in heavy losses to these big tech companies. Some of these resources were hired at a higher cost because of the sudden upsurge in demand.
• Fear of recession: As the demand is coming back to pre-Covid levels and seeing the debt bubble almost about to burst and fearing recession, these companies are cutting down their costs by closing down low-performing projects and laying off the excess and high-cost resources they hired to accelerate growth.
• Russia-Ukraine War: The war has also contributed to these layoffs as it has made the market more volatile. This is clearly visible from stock market volatility.
• Inflation: Rising inflation has also impacted several world economies severely leading to a crisis in the job market as well. The world is currently hitting a reset button to overcome all these ups and downs.

Lay-Offs scenario in India

• Among the startups that have laid off people, 10 startups were from the e-commerce industry while 7 startups were from edtech.
• Of these startups, seven to be specific, were unicorns—Ola, Byju’s, Unacademy, Vedantu, Cars24 and Mobile Premier League (MPL).
• Another unicorn, Blinkit, which was formerly known as Grofers, fired people when it was a unicorn but lost its unicorn status during acquisition by Zomato.

Impacts of Lay-offs

• Cut-throat market competition: Layoffs are a painful but expected fact of life in a market economy exposed to competition and trade.
• Immense loss to the workers: Layoffs can be damaging psychologically as well as financially to the affected workers as well as their families, communities, colleagues, and other businesses.
• Decreased customer loyalty: When a company lays off its employees it sends out a message to customers that it is undergoing some sort of crisis.  
• Emotional Distress: The person who is laid off suffers the most distress, but remaining employees suffer emotionally as well. The productivity level of employees who work in fear is likely to go down.

Lessons for India

• Indian startups grew at a notoriously faster pace than its neighboring regions.
• But the layoffs are a sobering reminder that the bigger the startups became, the harder they fell.
• Just because a startup had touched a sky-high valuation did not immediately mean its employees’ jobs were insured.

Way forward

• Voluntary retirement program: This enables individuals to transition to retirement smoothly.
• Cut back on the extras: If a company is laying off workers to reduce costs, it can look for other avenues of saving money. For example, the company managers can freeze additional hiring, reduce or remove bonuses.
• Consider a virtual office: Another way to cut down on costs is to keep only the most important staff onsite and send the rest of the workers home to work remotely.  
• Offer more unpaid time off: A company owner can also save money by offering more unpaid time off rather than eliminating workers’ positions.  

(Click) FREE1-to-1 on-call Mentorship by IAS-IPS officers | Discuss doubts, strategy, sources, and more

Topics for Today’s questions:

GS-1            Modern Indian history from about the middle of the eighteenth century until the present – significant events, personalities, issues.

GS-2          Salient features of the Representation of People’s Act.

GS-3          Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc.

GS-4          Case Studies

Question 1)

Q.1 Although the revolt of 1857 came at first as a mere military mutiny, it speedily changed its character and became a national insurrection. Discuss. (10 Marks)

Question 2)

Q.2 It is said that political funding plays a pivotal role in fostering political competition in the country. Critically evaluate the electoral bonds scheme in making the political funding process more transparent. (15 Marks)

Question 3)

Q.3 While infrastructure can act as the force multiplier to achieve a 5 trillion USD economy, Gatishakti masterplan can play a similar role for the growth of infrastructure. Elaborate. (15 Marks)

Question 4)  

Q.4 Akhil is a very reputed doctor who is passionate about the role of medical profession in development of India. Akhil is also an honest tax payer, having paid nearly 40% of his income in personal tax during the previous financial year. He has a small family with a 3-year-old daughter and a wife. They live in a major city that faces problems of acute pollution each year in winters. Given the sustained nature of the problem, Akhil has been thinking for some time about shifting to another city. Akhil started his professional journey as a doctor along with his childhood friend Rajesh. They studied in the same school and went to the same medical college. Today, both of them are highly paid doctors. They are thinking about partnering to start a hospital chain in India for affordable health care. Recently they organized a medical camp, bringing along other doctors and provided free cataract surgeries. At the camp family members of a patient thrashed a doctor and the medical staff attending the patient for alleged negligence in surgery. In wake of this incident, Rajesh has decided to migrate to country X which has attractive personal tax rates, better civic facilities, good schools, clean air, and is welcoming for skilled medical professionals. The beating of medical staff at the medical camp has left Akhil worried as well. He does not see this as a one-off incident. In recent years attacks on doctors and medical staffs by families of patients have increased across the country. Rajesh is trying to convince Akhil to move to X along with him. Akhil is a patriotic person and he feels conflicted about the prospect of moving to another country. He is aware that there is shortage of skilled medical professional in India, and migrating to another country would be doing a disservice to a medically under-served nation like India. But he is also feeling frustrated at the quality of life he seems to be getting in this country. As he is pondering over the thought, he sees the day’s newspaper filled with reports about crimes against women. He is thinking that in a more gender-sensitive society her daughter will be able to develop her potential in a free-spirited way. In light of these facts, answer: a) Akhil considers himself a patriot and wants to serve the nation as a doctor. Everyone has a different conception of patriotism. What does patriotism mean to you? b) What options are available to Akhil? Suggest and justify the most preferable choice. (20 Marks)

HOW TO ATTEMPT ANSWERS IN DAILY ANSWER WRITING ENHANCEMENT(AWE)?

1. Daily 4 questions from General studies 1, 2, 3, and 4 will be provided to you.

2. A Mentor’s Comment will be available for all answers. This can be used as a guidance tool but we encourage you to write original answers.

3. You can write your answer on an A4 sheet and scan/click pictures of the same.

4.  Upload the scanned answer in the comment section of the same question.

5. Along with the scanned answer, please share your Razor payment ID, so that paid members are given priority.

6. If you upload the answer on the same day like the answer of 11th  February is uploaded on 11th February then your answer will be checked within 72 hours. Also, reviews will be in the order of submission- First come first serve basis

7. If you are writing answers late, for example, 11th February is uploaded on 13th February , then these answers will be evaluated as per the mentor’s schedule.

8. We encourage you to write answers on the same day. However, if you are uploading an answer late then tag the mentor like @Staff so that the mentor is notified about your answer.

*In case your answer is not reviewed, reply to your answer saying *NOT CHECKED*. 

1. For the philosophy of AWE and payment: 

Topics for Today’s questions:

GS-1            Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms, literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times.

GS-2          Issues and challenges pertaining to the federal structure

GS-3          Role of external state and non-state actors in creating challenges to internal security.

GS-4          Contributions of moral thinkers and philosophers from India and the world.

Question 1)

Q.1 Although temples in ancient India had the primary role of being the centres of worship, they went on to become centres of socio-economic life of people. Elaborate. (10 Marks)

Question 2)

Q.2 Using recent examples, highlight the challenges to cooperative federalism in India. What should be done to strengthen it? (10 Marks)

Question 3)

Q.3 Inspite of the global collaboration on tackling terror financing, challenges still remain. Discuss. Also, suggest a way forward. (10 Marks)

Question 4)  

Q.4 Compare and contrast Kant’s categorical imperatives with the ancient Indian doctrine of Nishkama Karma. (10 Marks)

HOW TO ATTEMPT ANSWERS IN DAILY ANSWER WRITING ENHANCEMENT(AWE)?

1. Daily 4 questions from General studies 1, 2, 3, and 4 will be provided to you.

2. A Mentor’s Comment will be available for all answers. This can be used as a guidance tool but we encourage you to write original answers.

3. You can write your answer on an A4 sheet and scan/click pictures of the same.

4.  Upload the scanned answer in the comment section of the same question.

5. Along with the scanned answer, please share your Razor payment ID, so that paid members are given priority.

6. If you upload the answer on the same day like the answer of 11th  February is uploaded on 11th February then your answer will be checked within 72 hours. Also, reviews will be in the order of submission- First come first serve basis

7. If you are writing answers late, for example, 11th February is uploaded on 13th February , then these answers will be evaluated as per the mentor’s schedule.

8. We encourage you to write answers on the same day. However, if you are uploading an answer late then tag the mentor like @Staff so that the mentor is notified about your answer.

*In case your answer is not reviewed, reply to your answer saying *NOT CHECKED*. 

1. For the philosophy of AWE and payment: 

(Click) FREE1-to-1 on-call Mentorship by IAS-IPS officers | Discuss doubts, strategy, sources, and more

Do you put your money to work? Is investing in IPO a better option? Why do companies bring IPO? What is the relation of equity market with the economy of the country?

In this article, we shall discuss the reason behind the IPO Boom’ in India, how are these issues performing on the market after listing and what kind of value addition do they bring to the table.

What is an IPO?

• Every company needs money to grow and expand.
• They do this by borrowing or by issuing shares.
• If the company decides to opt for the second route of issuing shares, it must invite public investors to buy its shares.
• This is its first public invitation in the stock market and is called the Initial Public Offering (IPO).

Do you know?

The Dutch are credited with conducting the first modern IPO by offering shares of the Dutch East India Company to the general public.

What does it mean for investors to buy shares?

• When one buys such shares, he/she makes an IPO investment.
• He/she gets ownership in the company, proportionate to the value of your shares.
• These shares then get listed on the stock exchange.
• The stock exchange is where you can sell your existing shares in the company or buy more.

How does an IPO work?

• The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) regulates the entire process of investment via an IPO in India.
• A company intending to issue shares through IPOs first registers with SEBI.
• SEBI scrutinises the documents submitted, and only then approves it.

Who can hold IPOs?

• It could be a new, young company or an old company which decides to be listed on an exchange and hence goes public.

Trading of shares

• The company which offers its shares, known as an ‘issuer’, does so with the help of investment banks.
• After IPO, the company’s shares are traded in an open market.
• Those shares can be further sold by investors through secondary market trading.

Why are IPOs held?

Some of the main motivations for undertaking an IPO include:

• Raising capital from the sale of the shares
• Providing liquidity to company founders and early investors and
• Taking advantage of a higher valuation

Benefits offered by IPO

• Cheaper avenues of raising capital
• More exposure, prestige and enhanced public image
• Creating multiple financing opportunity through equity, convertible debt etc

Limitations of IPO

• Disclosure of sensitive financial and business information
• Risk of company performance in future
• Risk of litigation by investors
• Market pressure
• Cost of trading (transaction cost) borne by the investors

Why is there a boom of IPOs in India?

There are multiple reasons for the spike IPOs:

• Monetary push: In in a bid to boost the economy, central banks and governments over the world have been pumping money into the economy.
• Liquidity: This money with people is finding its way into the stock markets.
• Lower interest rates: As long as the interest rates remain low, investor enthusiasm remains and investors keep making listing gains on the last few issues.
• Retailers’ entry: Besides big institutional investors, recent months have seen a hoard of first-time retail investors entering the markets.
• Regulatory boosts: Positive changes in the regulatory environment are also forging IPOs as a sustainable path for scaled companies. The SEBI has been highly proactive in this regard.

Concerns raised

• The RBI has warned that there is a disconnect between Indian stock markets and the economy, which could pose a risk to the country’s financial stability.
• There is a question of sustainability of the spike in stock market.

Conclusion

• As a growing economy, India offers tremendous opportunities for entrepreneurs to build global companies.
• A very active early-stage VC ecosystem enables entrepreneurs to take that risk in the early stages, and a buoyant private equity market enables strong early-stage businesses to access growth capital.
• It is only natural to see a lot more IPOs in the future as these companies scale up.
• A knowledgeable and active public market ecosystem with active retail participation alongside FIIs is expected to make the country a solid story for the years to come.

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Topics for Today’s questions:

GS-1            Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms, literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times.

GS-2          Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting  India’s interests.

GS-3          Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.

GS-4          Contributions of moral thinkers and philosophers from India and the world.

Question 1)

Q.1 Explain with the help of suitable examples from the Indian context, how, numismatics is a vital tool in deciphering the history of country. (10 Marks)

Question 2)

Q.2 India-US relationship is a strategic partnership based on convergence of interests and shared value; a partnership, mature enough to accommodate divergence in worldview of both the countries. Discuss. (15 Marks)

Question 3)

Q.3 Commenting on the approach followed by India in its Long Term – Low Emission Development Strategy (LT- LEDS) to achieve net zero emission target, highlight the key features of the strategy. (15 Marks)

Question 4)  

Q.4 Highlight the role played by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar in paving the way for social equality in India. Examine the reasons behind the continued presence of social inequality in the country. (10 Marks)

HOW TO ATTEMPT ANSWERS IN DAILY ANSWER WRITING ENHANCEMENT(AWE)?

1. Daily 4 questions from General studies 1, 2, 3, and 4 will be provided to you.

2. A Mentor’s Comment will be available for all answers. This can be used as a guidance tool but we encourage you to write original answers.

3. You can write your answer on an A4 sheet and scan/click pictures of the same.

4.  Upload the scanned answer in the comment section of the same question.

5. Along with the scanned answer, please share your Razor payment ID, so that paid members are given priority.

6. If you upload the answer on the same day like the answer of 11th  February is uploaded on 11th February then your answer will be checked within 72 hours. Also, reviews will be in the order of submission- First come first serve basis

7. If you are writing answers late, for example, 11th February is uploaded on 13th February , then these answers will be evaluated as per the mentor’s schedule.

8. We encourage you to write answers on the same day. However, if you are uploading an answer late then tag the mentor like @Staff so that the mentor is notified about your answer.

*In case your answer is not reviewed, reply to your answer saying *NOT CHECKED*. 

1. For the philosophy of AWE and payment: 

Topics for Today’s questions:

GS-1            Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms, literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times.

GS-2          Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests

GS-3          Basics of cyber security

GS-4          Emotional intelligence-concepts, and their utilities and application in administration and governance.

Question 1)

Q.1 Highlighting the basic tenets of the Bhakti movement, emphasize upon the role of woman saints in the movement. (10 Marks)

Question 2)

Q.2 India’s “balancing act” till now in the ongoing Ukraine crisis can be said to be borne out of mature strategic thinking based on national interest. Do you think India should go a step forward and try to broker peace between Russia and Ukraine? (15 Marks)

Question 3)

Q.3 Highlighting different kinds of cyberthreats faced by India, evaluate the current status of cybersecurity framework in the country. (10 Marks)

Question 4)  

Q.4 “Emotional Intelligence is the ability to make your emotions work for you instead of against you.” Do you agree with this view? Discuss. (10 Marks)

HOW TO ATTEMPT ANSWERS IN DAILY ANSWER WRITING ENHANCEMENT(AWE)?

1. Daily 4 questions from General studies 1, 2, 3, and 4 will be provided to you.

2. A Mentor’s Comment will be available for all answers. This can be used as a guidance tool but we encourage you to write original answers.

3. You can write your answer on an A4 sheet and scan/click pictures of the same.

4.  Upload the scanned answer in the comment section of the same question.

5. Along with the scanned answer, please share your Razor payment ID, so that paid members are given priority.

6. If you upload the answer on the same day like the answer of 11th  February is uploaded on 11th February then your answer will be checked within 72 hours. Also, reviews will be in the order of submission- First come first serve basis

7. If you are writing answers late, for example, 11th February is uploaded on 13th February , then these answers will be evaluated as per the mentor’s schedule.

8. We encourage you to write answers on the same day. However, if you are uploading an answer late then tag the mentor like @Staff so that the mentor is notified about your answer.

*In case your answer is not reviewed, reply to your answer saying *NOT CHECKED*. 

1. For the philosophy of AWE and payment: