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GS Paper: GS1

  • Glass ceiling needs to be broken to unlock women potential

    glass ceilingContext

    • According to available UNESCO data on some selected countries, India is at the lowest position, having only 14% female researchers working in STEM areas highlighting the presence of glass ceiling.

    What is glass ceiling?

    • A glass ceiling is a metaphor used to represent an invisible barrier that prevents women from rising beyond a certain level in a hierarchy. The metaphor was first coined by feminists in reference to barriers in the careers of high-achieving women.

    What Is a Gender-equal Society?

    • A society in which both women and men shall be given equal opportunities to participate voluntarily in activities in all fields as equal partners, and be able to enjoy political, economic, social and cultural benefits equally as well as to share responsibilities.

    How glass ceiling limits women progress?

    • Few opportunities: Due to deep-rooted biases, it is difficult for women to access many experiences and networks that are easily accessible to men.
    • Social barriers and gender norms: Personal barriers include notions of compromise and sacrifice that are ingrained in women. This feeds into how women present themselves. External barriers and cultural cues reinforce how men and women “ought” to behave.
    • Gender Inequity: Stereotypes related to gender brilliance or gender-based intrinsic aptitude generate inequity which remains unnoticed.
    • Low self-confidence: Our socio-cultural constructs reflect absolute patriarchy causing even women to be sceptical about their abilities, to accept the roles set for them in the household.

    glass ceiling The gender gap in employment

    • Around the world, finding a job is much tougher for women than it is for men. When women are employed, they tend to work in low-quality jobs in vulnerable conditions, and there is little improvement forecast in the near future.

    glass ceilingWhat are STEM areas?

    • STEM stands for science, technology, engineering and mathematics and refers to any subjects that fall under these four disciplines.

    What are the drivers at policy and programme level to promote women in STEM in India?

    • Breaking myths and stereotypes around STEM is crucial to achieve the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal 5 (gender equality) which includes women’s use of enabling technology, including ICT as a means of achieving economic empowerment and greater agency and also many other STEM-related SDGs.

    glass ceilingGovernment initiatives

    • GATI: It will be called GATI (Gender Advancement through Transforming Institutions). The DST is incorporating a system of grading institutes depending on the enrolment of women and the advancement of the careers of women faculty and scientists.
    • CURIE: For infrastructure in women’s universities
    • Vigyan Jyoti Scheme: Encourage girls in high school to pursue STEM
    • The Athena Swan Charter: is a framework which is used across the globe to support and transform gender equality within higher education (HE) and research.
    • KIRAN: (Knowledge Involvement in Research Advancement through nurturing) Scheme to encourage women Scientists
    • Indo-US Fellowship: for Women in STEMM (STEM and Medicine)

    Conclusion

    • Gender equality or parity will happen only when there is a change in mind-set and institutions consider women as assets rather than simply a diversity rectification issue. Policies that help women advance in science and society globally are needed. The world cannot afford to miss out on what women have to offer.

    Mains question

    Q. What do you understand by the term glass ceiling? Discuss how it has hampered the women participation in high end research STEM jobs by citing some government initiatives to address this.

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  • 1st September 2022| Daily Answer Writing Enhancement(AWE)

    Topics for Today’s questions:

    GS-1        Distribution of key natural resources across the world (including South Asia and the Indian sub-continent)

    GS-2      Mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of the vulnerable sections.

    GS-3        Indian Economy

    GS-4        Public/Civil service values and Ethics in Public administration: accountability and ethical governance; strengthening of ethical and moral values in governance; ethical issues in international relations and funding; corporate governance.

    Question 1)

     

    Q.1 What do you understand by the Arctic Paradox? Highlight the spatial distribution of mineral and energy resources in the Arctic region. (15 Marks)

     

    Question 2)

    Q.2 There is a surge in demand by forest communities to not only access the resources of their habitat, but also to establish their ownership over forests. In this context, analyse the issues with working of FRA 2006. (10 Marks)

    Question 3)

    Q.3 Recently released RBI data on the states’ outstanding debt has registered an upward movement. In this context, analyse the issues between centre and state in fiscal domain. Also shed light on the issues with discretionary spending by the states. (15 Marks)

    Question 4)  

    Q.4 In the quest for scientific and technological development, ethical values should not be neglected. Discuss in the current context. (10 Marks)

     

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  • Heritage conservation

    heritage Context

    • Despite all the public talk of the importance of conserving our national heritage, the budget of the ASI, the primary institutional guardian of monuments, in 2021-22 has been reduced by more than Rs 200 cr.

    How do you define heritage?

    • Heritage is the full range of our inherited traditions, monuments, objects, and culture. Most important, it is the range of contemporary activities, meanings, and behaviours that we draw from them.

    Threats to Indian Heritage

    • Theft: The incidents of thefts have been observed usually from unprotected monuments, ancient temples. The thefts cases have also been seen in the protected monuments and museums as well. It is due to negligence of security guards in museums, monuments etc.
    • Smuggling: illicit traffic and smuggling in antiquities. Illicit traffic is motivated often by profit and sometimes by the demand for luxuries.
    • Tourism: Unregulated tourism, tourist activities run by touts, private agents have affected the art heritage places. The Culture Ministry of India has reported that up to 24 Indian monuments have been declared “untraceable” or “missing” by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
    • Issues with security of museums: Most of the museums are poorly guarded due to shortage of manpower leading to theft of artifacts, fire accidents etc.
    • Duplication: Fakes paintings and art forms leading to threat to livelihoods of artists.
    • Poor Maintenance: The state of the wall paintings in Ajanta caves is continuously getting worse, which can be attributed to humidity as well as to a lack of care.
    • Encroachment on monuments: Another miss from the ministry has been encroachments of monuments. Over 278 centrally protected monuments have been encroached upon or have illegal occupants, as per government data.

    heritage Why should we protect our heritage?

    • Evolution of human consciousness is a continuous process: History here serves as a laboratory and the past serves as a demarcation to understand the regional laws and social structures. This understanding helps in our progress towards an ideal society.
    • Pride of country: The art heritage is the identity and pride of our country. It is duty of every citizen to protect, preserve and perpetuate the cultural richness.
    • Tourism potential: for art monuments and museums is very high. Tourism generates revenue for the state as well as private artists due to the money-multiplier quality.
    • Infrastructure development: takes place in and around the areas. Eg. Hampi despite being a small town has excellent infrastructure.
    • Jobs: It creates jobs for a lot of people from art industry and tourism industry as well
    • Sense of belonging: It creates a feeling of oneness and a sense of attachment by enhancing a sense of belonging to a culture or a region.
    • Strengthen conviction: Every historical site has an important story to tell and these stories have inspired many people to strengthen their convictions and commitment to fight injustice and oppression.
    • Soft power: Art and culture is also a part of soft power in world politics.

    About Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)

    • The ASI is an attached office of the Ministry of Culture.
    • It was founded in 1861 by Alexander Cunningham who also became its first Director-General.
    • Under the provisions of the AMASR Act of 1958, the ASI administers more than 3650 ancient monuments, archaeological sites and remains of national importance.
    • These can include everything from temples, mosques, churches, tombs, and cemeteries to palaces, forts, step-wells, and rock-cut caves.

    Initiatives by ASI

    • Museums: ASI’s museums are customarily located right next to the sites that their inventories are associated with “so that they may be studied amid their natural surroundings and not lose focus by being transported”. A dedicated Museums Branch maintains a total of 44 museums spread across the country.
    • Publications by ASI: Epigraphia Indica, Ancient India, Indian Archaeology: A Review (Annually).
    • Library: Central Archaeological Library in the National Archives building in Janpath, New Delhi.

    Issues and Challenges ahead of ASI

    • To restore or not: Issue is that technically speaking- ruins are seldom “restored” in original state. This is because in absence of documentation- archaeologists are left to conjecture what buildings may have looked like when they were originally built.
    • Personnel Management Issues: Higher Authorities of ASI are traditionally from IAS Cadre. In-house specialist must be promoted for better coordination b/w technical and managerial aspects of restoration
    • Issues explored in CAG Report: 92 monuments are untraceable with no database on artifacts. Poor Documentation of Protected Monuments/Artifacts. Paucity of funds (Eg- Red fort gardens lie unkempt).

    Conclusion

    • It is the duty of every citizen to value and preserve the rich heritage of our composite culture. Preservation and conservation of India’s rich cultural heritage and promotion of all forms of art and culture, both tangible and intangible, is essential and assumes a lot of importance.

    Mains question

    Q. Safeguarding the Indian heritage is the need of the moment. What are the challenges faced in safeguarding them? What steps would you suggest to protect them?

     

     

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  • Old age poverty is getting worse if not addressed soon

    old age povertyContext

    • India’s old age poverty will be big by 2050. Only 2% informal workers have invested in NPS.
    • Poverty is about not having enough money to meet basic needs including food, clothing and shelter. However, poverty is more, much more than just not having enough money.

    Why is age a cause of poverty?

    • The “oldest-old”, aged 80 years or over, are less able to work than younger older persons; are more likely to have spent their savings; and are most in need of age-appropriate health and long-term personal care services.

    How age induces poverty in India?

    • India has no legal provisions for income security of the elderly, making the impacts of ageing far harsher for those who are already economically vulnerable.
    • Deteriorating brain and muscle capacity are largely non-negotiable facts of life, limiting one’s ability to get a job or remain employed.

    Reasons for old age poverty

    old age poverty

    • Dependency: A large section of the senior population in India is still dependent on the joint family set up for their senior care and post-retirement needs, with financial planning for retirement taking a back seat.
    • High population: An increase in the number of seniors in India will reduce the percentage of India’s human resource capital and its ability to drive economic growth.
    • Low insurance penetration: This highlights the inadequacy and underscores the critical need to streamline retirement planning schemes and strengthen the pension programs in the country. There is a lacks of social security framework.

    Data to remember

    People employed in the unorganised sector form around 90 per cent of India’s workforce.

    How to assure wellness and dignity to elders?

    • Income security in the form of monthly pensions either state-assured or employment-linked has been one of the most prevalent modes of assuring continued wellness and dignity against the life-shock of ageing.

    old age povertyAddressing the roadblock

    • Universal pension program: Income security in later years stems from multiple sources such as pensions, insurances (medical and life), Investments. This provides an opportunity for India to create a universal pension program for its 1.3 billion people.
    • Financial incentives: There is a pressing need to promote and facilitate fiscal planning in the early years and supplement it with senior-friendly tax structures and integrated insurance products. Such measures can help provide multiple income options to seniors to help them embrace a lifestyle of their choice.
    • Regulatory mechanism: A regulatory mechanism will set a viable base rate for the interest accrued on senior citizen deposits and ensure market dips don’t affect retirement income and senior-specific saving plans.

    Case study

    • Rwanda has achieved roughly 2 million voluntary micro-pension enrolments (30 per cent of its adult population) within three years by making digital account activation easy and simple for informal workers.

     

    Government intervention to improve elderly wellness

    • A strong and sustained political commitment,
    • A statutory pension sector regulator,
    • A well-designed and low-cost NPS product architecture,
    • Credible and well-regulated NPS intermediaries,
    • Securities market capable of delivering high returns,
    • Near-universal banking and mobile penetration,
    • The India Stack infrastructure with Aadhaar for easy eKYC, and UPI for secure digital payments.

    Conclusion

    • The government, Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) and the NPS industry now need to urgently put their heads together and address the obvious supply and demand side barriers. Every day is precious. After all, pension exclusion is akin to climate change. It needs immediate attention. By 2050, India’s problem of old age poverty will have become way too large, too late, too expensive and entirely irreversible.

    Mains question

    Q. Nearly 400 million young, economically active Indians are slowly walking towards extreme old age poverty in this context how will you explain and analyse the term old age poverty? Suggest some dynamic measures to address this problem.

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  • 31st August 2022| Daily Answer Writing Enhancement(AWE)

    Topics for Today’s questions:

    GS-1        Distribution of key natural resources across the world (including South Asia and the Indian sub-continent)

    GS-2        Parliament and State legislatures—structure, functioning, conduct of business, powers & privileges and issues arising out of these.

    GS-3        Challenges in internal security

    GS-4        Public/Civil service values and Ethics in Public administration: laws, rules, regulations and conscience as sources of ethical guidance

    Question 1)

     

    Q.1 What are ferrous minerals? Give an overview of the distribution of iron ore in India with examples. (10 Marks)

     

    Question 2)

    Q.2 Discuss the role of the Departmentally Related Standing Committees in strengthening parliamentary democracy in India. (10 Marks)

    Question 3)

    Q.3 Do you think AFSPA is license to kill? Critically examine the utility of AFSPA today. (10 Marks)

    Question 4)  

    Q.4 Integrity and probity can be maintained in public life by empowering the human consciousness. Explain. (10 Marks)

     

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  • Challenging the Special Marriage Act, 1954

    The Supreme Court has dismissed a writ petition challenging the Constitutional validity of certain provisions of the Special Marriage Act, 1954 under which couples seek refuge for inter-faith and inter-caste marriages.

    What is Special Marriage Act, 1954?

    • The Special Marriage Act, 1954 (SMA) was enacted to facilitate the marriage of couples professing different faiths, and preferring a civil wedding.
    • However, some practical problems arise in registering such marriages.
    • The law’s features on prior public notice being given and objections for the safety and privacy of those intending to marry across religions.
    • To overcome this, many settle for marriage under the personal law of one of them, with the other opting for religious conversion.

    What does the petition seek?

    • The Supreme Court dismissed a writ petition challenging the Constitutional validity of certain provisions of the SMA under which couples seek refuge for inter-faith and inter-caste marriages.
    • The writ petition has called these provisions violative of Article 21, which guarantees the right to privacy.
    • Under this act, the couples require to give a notice of 30 days before the date of marriage inviting objections from the public.
    • The provisions contravene Article 14 on prohibition of discrimination on grounds of religion, race, caste and sex as well as Article 15 on right to equality as these requirements are absent in personal laws.

    What did the court say?

    • The SC Bench rejected the writ petition on the grounds that the petitioner was no longer an aggrieved party as she had already solemnised her marriage under SMA.
    • The petitioner’s lawyers said that they were now deliberating on an alternative approach to initiate this litigation such as through a public interest litigation involving other victims.
    • Another writ petition is admitted by the Supreme Court in 2020 and the government’s reply to is awaited.

    What are the provisions that have been challenged?

    • Section 5 of the SMA requires couples getting married under it to give a notice to the Marriage Officer 30 days before the date of marriage.
    • Section 6 requires such a notice to be then entered into the Marriage Notice Book maintained by the Marriage Officer, which can be inspected by any person desirous of inspecting the same.
    • These notices have to be also affixed at a “conspicuous place” in the office of the Marriage Officer so that anyone can raise an objection to the marriage.
    • Section 7 provides the process for making an objection such as if either party has a living spouse, is incapable of giving consent due to “unsoundness of mind” or is suffering from mental disorder resulting in the person being unfit for marriage or procreation.
    • Section 8 specifies the inquiry procedure to be followed after an objection has been submitted.

    Why are these provisions contentious?

    • The provisions throw the personal information of the individuals open to public scrutiny. This may result into vigilantism.
    • This seriously damages one’s right to have control over her or his personal information and its accessibility.
    • By making the personal details of the couple accessible to everyone, the very right of the couple to be the decision makers of their marriage is being hampered by the state.

    How do these provisions make couples vulnerable?

    • These public notices have been used by anti-social elements to harass couples getting married.
    • For many who often marry without their parent’s consent this can be life-threatening.
    • Many states publicly share the details of couples marrying under SMA on their websites.
    • Many also complain about the behaviour of the staff at the SDM’s office who often delete or delay applications and dissuade couples from marrying under SMA.
    • With as many as 11 States passing anti-conversion (or so-called love-jihad) laws, parents and the State are now armed to punish and harass such couples.

     

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  • Consumerism should be replaced by minimalism

    Consumerism Context

    • The COVID-19 pandemic brought shifts in consumer behaviour. The world witnessed a shrinkage of demand. But post-pandemic recovery and suppressed consumerism is now leading to ‘revenge shopping’.

    What is consumerism?

    • Consumerism is a social and economic order that encourages the acquisition of goods and services in ever-increasing amounts.

    What is minimalism?

    • Minimalism is owning fewer possessions. It is intentionally living with only the things we really need those items that support our purpose. Removing the distraction of excess possessions to focus more on those things that matter most.

    ConsumerismWhat Is Revenge Shopping?

    • Revenge shopping occurs when a customer who previously could not get access to certain goods or services for a period of time suddenly has access. It can also occur when customers have been deprived of other events or happenings.

    ConsumerismThe symptoms of excessive consumerism

    • You buy more than you planned: if you set out with a plan of what you need to purchase but consistently come back with more than you anticipated, then you’re falling in the consumerist trap.
    • You run out of storage space for your stuff: sometimes it can’t be helped if you live in a tight area or you’re disorganised. But suppose you’re in a reasonable situation and things you bring in don’t have an allocated home. In that case, you’re likely living excessively.
    • You rely too much on return policies: returning an item is useful. Particularly if you need to test a product for the intended purpose, be it sizing for clothes or a tool for a building project. However, suppose you’re depending on returns for purchases. In that instance, you’re not sure you need it, or if you can’t afford it, then you’re probably suffering from too much consumerism.
    • You routinely seek approval for your purchases: getting feedback on purchases can be reassuring, especially if you’re indecisive. Yet, there’s a difference between picking someone’s brain before buying and looking to justify your purchase after the fact. If you’re seeking post-acquisition approval, you probably don’t need the item.
    • You mistakenly buy things you already have: not much to say here. If you’re getting things only to realise you already have it, then you’re probably deep in a consumerist cycle.
    • You buy things on credit: if you’re strategic and disciplined, you can buy things on credit cards to acquire points and benefits. However, if you’re like the majority of us, then you’re vulnerable to buying things you can’t afford.
    • You constantly go over your budget: sometimes, you miss-forecast how much you need to spend each month. But if you set a realistic budget and find that you’re still going over, then you’re probably consuming excessively.
    • You regret your purchases: the most obvious sign that you have a shopping habit is you regret things you bought. Buyer’s remorse is an overwhelming feeling and one we want to avoid.

    ConsumerismNegatives of consumerism

    • Causes more pollution: Consumerism as a system can have devastating effects on the environment.
    • A major contributor to resource depletion: The second main negative of consumerism is resource depletion.  Simply put, resource depletion refers to the idea that human beings are using up the resources on the earth as an ever increasing rate such that we will ‘deplete’ or completely use up some resources.
    • Leads companies to develop low quality products: Modern companies practice a technique called ‘planned obsolescence’. In general, planned obsolescence is best understood as products that are designed to fail. Modern companies do this to encourage consumers to repurchase a product over and over again.
    • Does not necessarily lead to increased happiness beyond a certain point: The main negative aspect of consumerism is that it does not necessarily lead to higher levels of happiness for people.
    • Global inequality: The huge rise in resource consumption in wealthier countries has led to an ever widening gap between the rich and the poor. As the age old saying goes, “the rich get richer and the poor get poorer.”

    What can we do?

    • Extend the lifespan of your things: Repairing your things is not only an effective way to reduce your consumption, but it’s also beneficial to the environment.
    • Reframe shopping as a skill: When you focus on the role the thing you’re buying will play in the overall experience instead of the experience of shopping itself, you’ll be able to shift away from a consumerist mind-set.
    • Do the deathbed test: Not to get too dark, but if you were hypothetically on your deathbed today, and you were reflecting on your life, what would be your fondest memories? The quality of our lives is generally measured by moments of “that was a good time”, not “that thing I had was awesome”.
    • Borrow or rent instead of buy: A simple method for getting your consumerism under control is to rent or borrow items instead of buying them.
    • Practice minimalism: What’s the ultimate alternative to consumerism? Minimalism. A minimalist is someone who naturally rejects consumerism and sees value in having fewer things over more things. Minimalism is a powerful philosophy that impacts how you view material things, your relationships, commitments, and digital inventory.

    Conclusion:

    • The M.K. Gandhi once said: “The Earth provides-enough to satisfy everyone’s needs but not any one’s greed.” We shall find that Gandhian call to curtailment of wants is relevant in the rapidly depleting natural resources, bio-diversity and eco-system and its contemporary relevance

    Mains question

    Q. What do you understand by the term consumerism? Discuss importance of minimalism as there is rise in revenge shopping in post covid19 era.

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  • 30th August 2022| Daily Answer Writing Enhancement(AWE)

    Topics for Today’s questions:

    GS-1        Salient features of world’s physical geography.

    GS-2        Comparison of the Indian constitutional scheme with that of other countries.

    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 Volcanic eruptions are widely considered to be agents of destruction but they also have certain positive impacts on the people and landscape. Discuss. (10 Marks)

     

    Question 2)

    Q.2 There are similarities and interactions between the affirmative action adopted by India and USA owing to similar historical injustices faced by their respective vulnerable groups. Discuss. (15 Marks)

    Question 3)

    Q.3 India manages to recover and recycle only about 1% of its construction and demolition waste. Analyse the constraints involved. Also, suggest some positive measures to address this challenge. (10 Marks)

    Question 4)  

    Q.4 Discretionary power by itself is not pure evil but gives much room for misuse. Discuss in the context of administration in India. (10 Marks)

     

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  • 29th August 2022| Daily Answer Writing Enhancement(AWE)

    Topics for Today’s questions:

    GS-1        Social empowerment, communalism, regionalism & secularism.

    GS-2        Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate. 

    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 Recognising unpaid work of women is a necessary but challenging task. Discuss. (10 Marks)

     

    Question 2)

    Q.2 State the functions of the United Nations Human Rights Council. Also, discuss the issues faced by the Council in the promotion and protection of human rights around the globe. (10 Marks)

    Question 3)

    Q.3 As the world copes with the repercussions of carbon emissions, there is growing pressure to achieve climate-compatible growth. In this context what do you understand by the term green finance? Discuss how it will help to achieve climate-compatible growth along with limitations of green finance. (10 Marks)

    Question 4)  

    Q.4 The teachings of Arya Samaj present key ethical lessons for present day India. Discuss. (10 Marks)

     

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  • Strong gender norms of japan reducing gender equality

    Gender norms Context

    • Japan ranked lowest among the developed countries in the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Index 2022 due to its prevalent gender norms.

    What Is a Gender-equal Society?

    • A society in which both women and men shall be given equal opportunities to participate voluntarily in activities in all fields as equal partners, and be able to enjoy political, economic, social and cultural benefits equally as well as to share responsibilities.

    What is sexism in simple words?

    • Prejudice or discrimination based on sex especially discrimination against women. Behaviour, conditions, or attitudes that foster stereotypes of social roles based on sex.

    What is the meaning of gender norms?

    • Gender norms are social principles that govern the behaviour of girls, boys, women, and men in society and restrict their gender identity into what is considered to be appropriate. Gender norms are neither static nor universal and change over time.

    Gender norms Persistent gender norms in japan

    • Men should work outside the home.
    • Genders should be brought up differently.
    • Women are more suited to household work and child rearing than men.
    • Full time housewives are valuable to society because of their family raising role.

    What is womenomic’s?

    • “Womenomics”, a theory linking the advancement of women to increased development rates. The concept, originally defined by the Japanese Prime Minister Abe.

    What is women’s empowerment all about?

    • Women’s empowerment can be defined to promoting women’s sense of self-worth, their ability to determine their own choices, and their right to influence social change for themselves and others.

    gender norms

    Measures toward the Realization of a Gender-equal Society

    • Promoting the Participation of Women in National Advisory Councils and Committees.
    • Recruiting and Promoting of Female National Public Officers.

    What is needed to improve women’s welfare?

    • Community sensitization: Persistent effort must be directed toward community sensitization to root out patriarchal social norms.
    • Directional efforts: In addition to enforcing existing regulations like minimum wages, there must be supportive ancillary policies including childcare; secure transport; lighting; safety at work; and quotas in hiring, corporate boards, and politics to foster more  women  in  leadership.

    Key fact

    Japan is the world’s fourth largest economy.

    Conclusion

    • Due to the labour shortage in Japan, women are undoubtedly an essential resource for the nation. Hence, they should also be further involved in policy-making and social decisions such as gender inequality solving and feasible Womenomic’s adjustments for the next future.

    Mains question

    Q. Japan’s struggle with gender parity teaches us that investing in women’s education and health may have limited impact if that society is trapped in gender norms that restrict women from capitalising these investments for themselves, the society and the country. Critically analyse.

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