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Why India’s bureaucracy needs urgent reform
Context
The bureaucracy that took India through the last 75 years can’t be the one to take it through the next 75 — we need a proactive, imaginative, technology-savvy, enabling bureaucracy.
Role of bureaucracy and challenges it faces
- The civil services, and the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) in particular played important role in holding India together post-Independence.
- Much of the impressive nation-building across sectors happened because of their dedication and commitment.
- It is also forgotten that the bureaucracy, unlike the private sector, is a creature of the Constitution and is bound by multiple rules, laws, and procedures.
- Understaffed: As per estimates compiled by the Institute of Conflict Management, the government of India (GOI) has about 364 government servants for every 1,00,000 residents, with 45 per cent in the railways alone.
- About 60 per cent and 30 per cent are in Groups C and D, respectively, leaving a skeletal skilled staff of just about 7 per cent to man critical positions.
- We are grossly understaffed.
- Inaction: Further, faced with extensive judicial overreach reporting to an often rapacious, short-sighted political executive, and a media ever ready to play the role of judge, jury and executioner, the bureaucracy has in large part found comfort in inaction and ensuring audit-proof file work.
Suggestions
- Get out of business: That we need not be in many sectors is well-recognised — leave them to the markets — and politicians must get bureaucrats out of business, in more ways than one.
- Prevent punitive actions: To increase the officers’ willingness to take decisions, one possible solution is to legally prevent enforcement agencies from taking punitive action, like arrest for purely economic decisions without any direct evidence of kickbacks.
- Lateral entry: The toughest challenge is to change an inactive bureaucracy to one that feels safe in taking genuine risks.
- Lateral entry needs to expand to up to 15 per cent of Joint/Additional and Secretary-level positions in GOI.
- Recruitment process: Changes in recruitment procedures, like the interview group spending considerable time with the candidates, along with psychometric tests, will improve the incoming pool of civil servants.
- Evaluation: Most importantly, after 15 years of service, all officers must undergo a thorough evaluation to enable them to move further, and those who do not make it should be put out to pasture.
- Adoption of technology: Every modern bureaucracy in the world works on technology-enabled productivity and collaboration tools.
- India procures about $600 billion worth of goods and services annually — can’t all payments be done electronically?
Consider this question ” The civil services held India together after Independence, but if the country’s potential is to be realised, existing problems of inefficiency and inaction must be fixed. In light of this, examine the factors reasponsible for inefficiency and suggest the reforms.”
Conclusion
India cannot hope to get to a $5-trillion economy without a modern, progressive, results-oriented bureaucracy, one which says “why not?” instead of “why?” when confronted with problems.
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Explained: BSF powers and jurisdiction
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has extended the jurisdiction of the Border Security Force (BSF) up to 50 km inside the international borders in Punjab, West Bengal and Assam.
Do you know?
BSF currently stands as the world’s largest border guarding force. It has been termed as the First Line of Defence of Indian Territories.
About Border Security Force (BSF)
- The BSF is India’s border guarding organization on its border with Pakistan and Bangladesh.
- It comes under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
- It was raised in the wake of the 1965 War on 1 December 1965 for ensuring the security of the borders of India and for matters connected therewith.
- The BSF has its own cadre of officers but its head, designated as a Director-General (DG), since its raising has been an officer from the Indian Police Service (IPS).
What are the new modifications?
- The MHA has exercised the powers under the Border Security Force Act of 1968.
- It has thus outlined the area of BSF’s jurisdiction.
- While the places marked here are within 50 km of the respective borders, this is not meant to represent the BSF’s jurisdiction.
- At the same time, the Ministry has reduced BSF’s area of operation in Gujarat from 80 km from the border, to 50 km.
Powers exercised by BSF in its jurisdiction
BSFs jurisdiction has been extended only in respect of the powers it enjoys under:
- Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC)
- Passport (Entry into India) Act, 1920 and
- Passport Act, 1967
Arrest and search
- BSF currently has powers to arrest and search under these laws.
- It also has powers to arrest, search and seize under the NDPS Act, Arms Act, Customs Act and certain other laws.
Its powers under these will continue to be only up to 15 km inside the border in Punjab, Assam and West Bengal, and will remain as far as 80 km in Gujarat.
Sanctions behind such powers
- Scarcely populated borders: At that time, border areas were sparsely populated and there were hardly any police stations for miles.
- Trans-border crimes: To prevent trans-border crimes, it was felt necessary that BSF is given powers to arrest.
- Manpower crunch: While police stations have now come up near the border, they continue to be short-staffed.
Various issues at Borders
- Encroachment
- Illegal incursion
- Drug and cattle smuggling
Why has the government extended the jurisdiction?
- The objective of the move is to bring in uniformity and also to increase operational efficiency. Earlier BSF had different jurisdictions in different states.
- BSF often gets information relating to crime scenes that may be out of their jurisdiction.
- The move was also necessitated due to increasing instances of drone-dropping of weapons and drugs.
Impact on State Police jurisdiction
- This move will complement the efforts of the local police. Thus, it is an enabling provision.
- It’s not that the local police can’t act within the jurisdiction of the BSF.
- The state police have better knowledge of the ground. Hence BSF and local Police can act in cooperation.
Criticism of the move
- At a basic level, the states can argue that law and order is a state subject and enhancing BSF’s jurisdiction infringes upon powers of the state government.
- In 2012, then Gujarat CM and the present PM had opposed a central government moves to expand BSF’s jurisdiction.
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How Sensible is it Use Food Grains to Produce Ethanol?
India is planning to use surplus rice, besides sugarcane, to meet its biofuel target of blending 20% ethanol with petrol.
Could this impede India’s crop diversification goals or worsen nutritional indicators? Let us see!
Govt’s plan to promote ethanol
- India is estimated to achieve about 8.5% blending with petrol by this year, which it plans to increase to a mandatory 20% blending by 2025.
Sources for ethanol
The plan is to divert its excess sugar production to produce ethanol, 3.5 million tonnes in 2021-22 and 6 million tonnes the next year, in addition to grains like rice, corn, and barley.
- Using surplus rice: The government’s food department revealed its plans to divert 17 million tonnes of surplus rice from its food stocks of 90 million tonnes to produce ethanol.
- Sugarcane: This is in addition to the 2 million tonnes of sugar which is already being diverted to produce ethanol.
How would this benefit the country?
- Cost saving: A successful biofuels programme can save India $4 billion or about ₹30,000 crore every year by lowering import of petroleum products.
- Emission cut: Ethanol is also less polluting and offers equivalent efficiency at a lower cost than petrol.
- Biofuel’s policy boost: Rising production of grains and sugarcane and feasibility of making vehicles compliant to ethanol-blended fuel makes its biofuels policy a strategic requirement.
- Early rollout: Towards this, govt has put in place interest subsidies for distilleries to expand capacity while auto firms have agreed to make compatible vehicles.
What are the unintended effects of the policy?
- Unsustainability of cash-crops: Increasing reliance on biofuels can push farmers to grow more water-intensive crops like sugarcane and rice.
- Huge water requirement: Currently use 70% of the available irrigation water, negating some positive impact on the environment of using more ethanol.
- Food and nutrition security: The move could impact India’s hunger situation by limiting the coverage of the food security schemes.
- Food inflation: Diversion of mass consumption grains can also push food prices up.
How will it impact crop diversification?
- Monotonous crops: Although the biofuels policy stresses on using less water-consuming crops, farmers prefer to grow more sugarcane and rice due to price support schemes.
- Water stress: Growing more of them can lead to an adverse impact in water-stressed areas in states.
What about food security?
- It is unethical to use edible grains to produce ethanol in a country where hunger is rampant.
- India is already a poor performer in Global Hunger Index.
- Although about 80 crore people are now receiving subsidized food grains, calculations show that over 10 crore eligible households are still excluded.
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Customs Duty Waiver on Edible Oil Imports
The Union Commerce Minister has announced that the government has decided to waive customs duty on import of crude sunflower, palm and soyabean oil, a move aimed at controlling their prices.
Edible Oil Imports and India
- Given the heavy dependency on imports, the Indian edible oil market is influenced by the international markets.
- Of the 20-21 million tonnes of edible oil that India consumes annually, around 4-15 mt is imported.
- India is second only to China (34-35 mt) in terms of consumption of edible oil.
- Crude and food-grade refined oil is imported in large vessels, mainly from Malaysia, Brazil, Argentina, Indonesia etc.
- Home-grown oilseeds such as soyabean, groundnut, mustard, cottonseed etc find their way to domestic solvent and expellers plants, where both the oil and the protein-rich component is extracted.
Do you know?
Palm oil (45%) is the largest consumed oil, mainly used by the food industry for frying namkeen, mithai, etc, followed by soyabean oil (20%) and mustard oil (10%), with the rest accounted for by sunflower oil, cottonseed oil, groundnut oil etc.
Prices and politics
- Prices of edible oil have been rising across the country since few months.
- Most edible oils are trading between Rs 130-Rs 190/litre.
- Also, the festive season will see increased buying of edible oils.
Impact of the move
- Consumers might not see a drastic reduction immediately in prices of edible oil.
- The reduction in duty is expected to affect the earnings of oilseed growers across the country.
Long-term implications
- Over the last few years, the government has taken a series of steps to remove India’s import dependency on pulses, and tried to do the same for oilseeds through national missions.
- However, frequent market interventions that ultimately bring down prices would backfire on the government and veer farmers away from growing oilseeds.
- We need continuity in prices to help farmers stick to oilseeds or pulses.
Back2Basic: Customs Duty
- Customs duty refers to the tax imposed on goods when they are transported across international borders.
- In simple terms, it is the tax that is levied on import and export of goods.
- Custom duty in India is defined under the Customs Act, 1962, and all matters related to it fall under the Central Board of Excise & Customs (CBEC).
- The government uses this duty to raise its revenues, safeguard domestic industries, and regulate movement of goods.
- The rate of Customs duty varies depending on where the goods were made and what they were made of.
Types of custom duty
- Basic Customs Duty (BCD): It is the duty imposed on the value of the goods at a specific rate at a specified rate of ad-valorem basis.
- Countervailing Duty (CVD): It is imposed by the Central Government when a country is paying the subsidy to the exporters who are exporting goods to India.
- Additional Customs Duty or Special CVD: It is imposed to bring imports on an equal track with the goods produced or manufactured in India.
- Protective Duty: To protect interests of Indian industry
- Safeguard Duty: It is imposed to safeguard the interest of our local domestic industries. It is calculated on the basis of loss suffered by our local industries.
- Anti-dumping Duty: Manufacturers from abroad may export goods at very low prices compared to prices in the domestic market. In order to avoid such dumping, ADD is levied.
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What is a Small Finance Bank?
The Reserve Bank of India has issued a small finance bank (SFB) license to a consortium of fintech companies BharatPe and Centrum Financial Services Ltd.
What is a SFB?
- Small finance banks (SFBs) are a type of niche banks in India.
- They can be promoted either by individuals, corporate, trusts or societies.
- They are governed by the provisions of Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934, Banking Regulation Act, 1949 and other relevant statutes.
- They are established as public limited companies in the private sector under the Companies Act, 2013.
- Banks with a SFB license can provide basic banking service of acceptance of deposits and lending.
Objectives of setting-up an SFB
- To provide financial inclusion to sections of the economy not being served by other banks, such as small business units, small and marginal farmers, micro and small industries and unorganized sector entities
Key features of SFBs
- Existing non-banking financial companies (NBFC), microfinance institutions (MFI) and local area banks (LAB) can apply to become small finance banks.
- The banks will not be restricted to any region.
- 75% of its net credits should be in priority sector lending and 50% of the loans in its portfolio must in ₹25 lakh.
- The firms must have a capital of at least ₹200 crore.
- The promoters should have 10 years’ experience in banking and finance.
- Foreign shareholding will be allowed in these banks as per the rules for FDI in private banks in India.
Back2Basics: Small Payments Bank Vs. Payment Bank
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India ranked 101 in Global Hunger Index (GHI)
The Global Hunger Index 2021 has ranked India at 101 positions out of a total 116 countries.
Note the parameters over which the GHI is based and their weightage composition.
Global Hunger Index (GHI)
- The Global Hunger Index is a peer-reviewed annual report, jointly published by Concern Worldwide and Welthungerhilfe.
- It determines hunger on a 100-point scale, where 0 is the best possible score (no hunger) and 100 is the worst.
- It is designed to comprehensively measure and track hunger at the global, regional, and country levels.
- The aim of the GHI is to trigger action to reduce hunger around the world.
For each country in the list, the GHI looks at four indicators:
- Undernourishment (which reflects inadequate food availability): calculated by the share of the population that is undernourished (that is, whose caloric intake is insufficient)
- Child Wasting (which reflects acute undernutrition): calculated by the share of children under the age of five who are wasted (that is, those who have low weight for their height)
- Child Stunting (which reflects chronic undernutrition): calculated by the share of children under the age of five who are stunted (that is, those who have low height for their age)
- Child Mortality (which reflects both inadequate nutrition and unhealthy environment): calculated by the mortality rate of children under the age of five
India’s (poor) performance
- India is among the 31 countries where hunger has been identified as serious.
- Only 15 countries fare worse than India.
- Some of these include Afghanistan (103), Nigeria (103), Congo (105), Mozambique (106), Sierra Leone (106), Timor-Leste (108), Haiti (109), Liberia (110), Madagascar (111) and Somalia (116).
- India was also behind most of the neighbouring countries.
- Pakistan was placed at 92 rank, Nepal at 76 and Bangladesh also at 76.
Reasons for such poor performance
- Poor maternal health: Mothers are too young, too short, too thin and too undernourished themselves, before they get pregnant, during pregnancy, and then after giving birth, during breast-feeding.
- Poor sanitation: Poor sanitation, leading to diarrhoea, is another major cause of child wasting and stunting.
- Food insecurity: Low dietary diversity in India is also a key factor in child malnutrition.
- Poverty: Almost 50 million households in India are dependent on these small and marginal holdings.
- Livelihood loss: The rural livelihoods loss after COVID and lack of income opportunities other than the farm sector have contributed heavily to the growing joblessness in rural areas.
Issues over credibility of GHI
- India has ranked among many African countries while it is among the top 10 food-producing countries in the world.
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Kallakurichi Wood Carvings and Karuppur Kalamkari Paintings get GI tag
In Tamil Nadu, the Karuppur kalamkari paintings and the Kallakurichi wood carvings recently received the geographical indication (GI) tags.
[A] Kallakurichi Wood Carvings
- The Kallakurichi wood carvings are a unique form of wood carving practiced in Tamil Nadu.
- It involves the application of ornamentation and designs, derived from traditional styles by the craftsmen.
- They are mainly practiced in Kallakurichi, Chinnaselam and Thirukkovilur taluks of Kallakurichi district.
[B] Karuppur Kalamkari Paintings
- Kalamkari paintings are done on pure cotton cloth, predominantly used in temples for umbrella covers, cylindrical hangings, chariot covers and asmanagiri (false ceiling cloth pieces).
- Documentary evidence shows that kalamkari paintings evolved under the patronage of Nayaka rulers in the early 17th century.
Back2Basics: Geographical Indication
- A GI is a sign used on products that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities or a reputation that are due to that origin.
- Nodal Agency: Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry
- India, as a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO), enacted the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999 w.e.f. September 2003.
- GIs have been defined under Article 22 (1) of the WTO Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) Agreement.
- GI is granted for a term of 10 years in India. As of today, more than 300 GI tags has been allocated so far in India (*Wikipedia).
- The tag stands valid for 10 years.
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[pib] Automated fuelling technology- UFill
The Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) has launched an automated fuelling technology -UFill- to ensure that its customers have a better experience at outlets.
What is UFill?
- UFill functionality, which has been described as swift, secure and smart, has been launched in 65 cities and will soon be launched across the country.
- It does not need any app download, and is payment app agnostic.
- Customer can use any payment app already downloaded on his/her phone.
- It offers real time QR and voucher code through SMS and is accepted at all BPCL Fuel Stations where the functionality is enabled.
Key features
- UFill aims to improve customer’s turn-around time (TAT) at fuel outlet and increase transactional transparency, thereby providing enhanced retail like experience.
- The technology provides the customer with control of fuelling as well as touch less pre-payment solution.
- There is no need to check zero before fuelling or final reading, the dispensing unit will automatically dispense the exact quantity of fuel.
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Number of Polity questions over the years (2013-2021) in UPSC Prelims
From 2013-2021, prelims papers had an average of 15 polity questions. There have not been any major variations over the years. Hence, polity is one of the most important subjects in the prelims exams.
If you like our polity analysis, fill the form below to have a one-on-one interactive session with our mentors on other subjects as well.
Polity vis-à-vis Prelims-2021
Level of Difficulty in Polity Questions:
Sources of Polity questions:
Every year, atleast 10 questions appear from the Laxmikant book. This makes it a standard source for polity studies. Difficulty level of most questions in polity is easy. This means preparing from current affairs and the standard sources is enough for the prelims examination. Aspirants can prepare from the following sources for Polity –
A. Polity Fundamental basics
- NCERT 9th and 10th Political theory book
- Value Addition on Political science Basics by Santosh Gupta
B. Polity and Constitution
1. Indian Constitutional at Work (NCERT)
2. M. Laxmikant on Polity
3. The Oxford Handbook of the Indian Constitution by Madhav Khosla
C. Current Affairs
1. CivilsDaily Monthly Magazines
2. Samachar Manthan Notes
Sub-topics wise analysis
Aspirants have to pay attention to topics like fundamentals of polity, fundamental rights, directive principles of state policy, the preamble, schedules and articles in constitution and the recent bills cleared in the Parliament. Most of the questions have been asked from these topics from 2013 to 2021.
Sub-Topic Wise Comparative study of 2021 Questions from 2020 Questions & Before.
Questions both in 2021 and 2020 papers have appeared from the following three areas. For detailed analysis, go through the table below:
A. Polity Fundamental aspects- Related to basics of Political Science
B. Polity and Constitution aspects
C. Current Affairs
A. Polity Fundamentals/Pol Science type questions Questions before 2021 prelims Questions in 2021 prelims 1.Constitutional Government On the meaning of the word Repeat question on meaningseems to UPSC’s FavouriteAvailable in NCERT 2.Idea of Liberty : definition, restriction, relation with article14 etc.
No question in 2020However, Continued theme since 2014.Definition of Liberty (2019)Relation of law and liberty(2018), Restriction on liberty(2014)
Question on Safeguards to libertyUPSC intends to ask for various aspects of liberty and rule of lawCan be solved by NCERT/ NIOS level Gyan3. Definition of keywords: state/nation/communism/GandhismRule of Law, equality No such questionQuestions on Gandhism and Marxism Definition of equality in 2017 Question on definition of state.Need to be prepared on Political science definition of keywords. B.Questions on ConstitutionGood Number of Questions from Preamble, FRs and DPSP Questions before 2021 prelims Questions in 2021 prelims Preamble1-2 questions ever year One direct question on preamble, in another Preamble is one of right option. Two questions in 2017 such minds of constitutional makers and another on contents of preamble Contents of preamble(2015) Indirect question on Preamble- Status of India on 26th January 1950 Fundamental rights2 questions every year One direct question in 2020 (Article 17-Untouchability)Two questions in 2019 such as right to marry and 9th schedule Two questions in 2021Article 14- equalityArticle 18- Abolition of titles DPSPsAt least 2 questions every year Two direct questions in 20201.Welfare State2.Part IVOne Indirect Question- UNHDR One Direct question: Concentration of Wealth in 2021 Debatable questionsEach year 1-2 questions
(2019) will state legislatures follow the rules of Lok Sabha?(2017) right to vote
Repeated theme of Confusing aspirants over constitutional and Legal Rights such as vote, property etc.Two Questions in 2021 Right to Property whether available to citizen only/all
Definition of State
Separation of powers- Committed Judiciary type optionParliament
Few Difficult questions on Parliament Procedures, Committees etc.
1-2 questions on motions/ resolutions, qualifications
One Question on Rulebook(2020)
Minister eligibility & RPA (2020)
2019: office of profit and disqualificationComplete omission of this area of questions in 2021
2022 may have 2-3 questionsJudiciary relatedAt least one question
Basic Structure and Judicial Review (2020)Judicial Review and 44th Amendment (2019)Impeachment of Judges(2019)Direct question on Independence of JudiciaryIndirect question on role of Judiciary in federalismIndirect question on role of judiciary in ensuring liberal democracy C. Current Affairs: Questions before 2021 prelims Questions in 2021 prelims Random Laws and Schemes from older Current Affairs NALSA (2013 and 2020)MPLADS (2020)AADHAR (2019 and 2020)Transgender Law No Current Affairs as such not even from old current (>1 year)
Two questions on Parole and Judicial custody- seems to inspired from current events related to death of an actor last year.How to Prepare Polity for Prelims 2022
Watch this strategy video to get a clear understanding:
Polity is certainly the first subject most aspirants read when they start their preparation. If you are a 2022 aspirant who needs polity test series or guidance for the subject then click here.
Way Forward
In prelims 2021 paper, Polity seems to be the most doable section. Most questions are easy to moderate and from standard sources of NCERT and Laxmikant. There is less emphasis on current affairs directly however many questions seem to inspired from current affairs. More focus is on understanding the basic concepts and constitutional aspects while linking it with current happenings. Aspirants need not to worry about older current affairs as there are lesser number of questions. Controversial questions get more mileage in the interview round, where one is expected to give balanced answers.
Want to know the best sources, important topics to prepare and how to study other subjects for UPSC CSE 2022 exams? Fill the form below and a veteran CD mentor will get in touch with you within 24 hours.
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How to bounce back strongly after the 2021 prelims failure? | Free webinar by Sajal sir
Failing to qualify Prelims does not mean that you give up! There have been top rankers in the history of UPSC who failed to qualify Prelims multiple times but learned from each mistake and kept improving themselves. Pranav Vijayvargiya (AIR Rank 65) 2020 is the biggest example of this. He failed consecutively in 2 prelims but he kept himself motivated and finally got (AIR Rank 65) under the guidance of Sajal sir.
Fear of failure keeps you from learning and this is not the time to lose hope! It may be a tough situation but there’s still a lot you can learn from it.
Sajal Sir has helped over 400 aspirants secure ranks in the last 6 years. He has helped 30 students secure ranks in the top 100 in UPSC 2020. He knows about success but he also knows how success is built from lessons of failure. He knows how bad the situation may become if you don’t qualify for Prelims but he also knows how to use that learning to crack the exam. And that’s the secret he will share with you in an absolutely free webinar.
What will you learn in the webinar?
- How to keep yourself motivated in this exam process whose gestation period is very high.
2. How to cope up with failures in this exam cycle
3. How to maintain consistency during preparation
3. How to re-start preparation again for the 2022 exam
4. Which mistakes to avoid in your next attempt
5. Blueprint of your preparation plan. When to start preparation for prelims again.
6. How to utilize these next 4 months before you start preparing for prelims again.
7. What to study, From where to study, and how to study.
8. Smart study-related practical strategies which work on the ground.
9. 4-2-4 Model of Preparation
10. Open 1-1 Q&A session with Sajal sir
Join Sajal sir for the free webinar and take the first step towards cracking the exam in the upcoming attempt!
Date: 16/10/21
Time: 7 p.m.
About Sajal Sir
He is the founder and Core Faculty at CD. An economics Post-Graduate, He had scored the highest marks in GS Mains in the 2017 UPSC exam, and under his guidance, more than 80 students cracked the UPSC exam in 2020.
This is what Pranav Vijayvergiya (AIR 65) had to say about his experience of studying under the guidance of Sajal Sir:
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15th October 2021| Daily Answer Writing Enhancement(AWE)
Topics for Today’s questions:
GS-1 Role of women and women’s organizations
GS-2 Role of Civil Services in a Democracy.
GS-3 Indian Economy and issues relating to Planning, Mobilization of Resources, Growth, Development and Employment.
GS-4 Emotional intelligence-concepts, and their utilities and application in administration and governance
Questions:
Question 1)
Q.1 The important issues raised by the Women’s Organisations in pre-Independence era are still relevant today. Critically examine. (15 Marks)
Question 2)
Q.2 The civil services held India together after Independence, but if the country’s potential is to be realised, existing problems of inefficiency and inaction must be fixed. In light of this, examine the factors responsible for inefficiency and suggest the reforms. (15 Marks)
Question 3)
Q.3 What are the factors driving the surge of private equity funding in India? What are the advantages and issues with such a rapid inflow of funds in the Indian economy? (10 Marks)
Question 4)
Q.4 The Covid-19 pandemic has brought with itself an environment of uncertainties and hardships. In this context, discuss the significance of emotional intelligence in dealing with the situation. (10 Marks)
HOW TO ATTEMPT ANSWERS IN DAILY ANSWER WRITING ENHANCEMENT(AWE)?
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Daily 4 questions from General studies 1, 2, 3, and 4 will be provided to you.
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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.
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You can write your answer on an A4 sheet and scan/click pictures of the same.
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Upload the scanned answer in the comment section of the same question.
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Along with the scanned answer, please share your Razor payment ID, so that paid members are given priority.
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If you upload the answer on the same day like the answer of 11th October is uploaded on 11th October then your answer will be checked within 72 hours. Also, reviews will be in the order of submission- First come first serve basis
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If you are writing answers late, for example, 11th October is uploaded on 13th October, then these answers will be evaluated as per the mentor’s schedule.
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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*.
For the philosophy of AWE and payment:
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Q.4 The Covid-19 pandemic has brought with itself an environment of uncertainties and hardships. In this context, discuss the significance of emotional intelligence in dealing with the situation. (10 Marks)
Mentor’s Comments-
- Briefly introduce with a short note on the negative effects of COVID-19 pandemic.
- Discuss how emotional intelligence can help tide over such debilitating effects.
- Conclude appropriately.
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Q.3 What are the factors driving the surge of private equity funding in India? What are the advantages and issues with such a rapid inflow of funds in the Indian economy? (10 Marks)
Mentor’s comment-- https://indianexpress.com/
article/opinion/columns/ indian-economy-market- investors-7570709/ - In the intro, mention the flow of $52 billion of PE funding in India over the last one year.
- In the body, mention the factors such as better physical infrastructure, innovation in banking and digital economy, a large number of software professionals, maturing industries such as pharma and global factors like low-interest rates in the developed economies etc. While such flow of capital acts as a booster there are several concerns with it such as allocation inefficiencies and companies’ valuation rising manifold within months.
- Conclude by mentioning that for now, this flow of funds is a welcome booster for the economy as it recovers from the scars of the pandemic-driven lockdowns.
- https://indianexpress.com/
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Q.2 The civil services held India together after Independence, but if the country’s potential is to be realised, existing problems of inefficiency and inaction must be fixed. In light of this, examine the factors responsible for inefficiency and suggest the reforms. (15 Marks)
Mentor’s comment-- https://indianexpress.com/
article/opinion/columns/india- bureaucracy-reforms-civil- services-pm-narendra-modi- 7572196/ - In the intro, mention the need for a proactive, imaginative, technology-savvy, enabling bureaucracy.
- In the body, mention the important role played by the civil bureaucracy in the development of a country. In the next part, mention the issues such as lack of willingness to take the decision and judicial overreach. In the suggestions mention preventing enforcement agencies from taking punitive actions for purely economic decisions without direct evidence, changing inactive bureaucracy to take the genuine risk, changes in recruitment procedure, use of technology etc.
- Conclude by mentioning that India cannot hope to get to a $5-trillion economy without a modern, progressive, results-oriented bureaucracy, one which says “why not?” instead of “why?” when confronted with problems.
- https://indianexpress.com/
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Q.1 The important issues raised by the Women’s Organisations in pre-Independence era are still relevant today. Critically examine. (15 Marks)
Mentor’s Comments-
- In introduction, write about some women’s organisations in the pre-independence era during the social reform movement.
- In the body, mention some women’s issues during pre-independence era.
- Then, mention few points about the progress achieved on these issues after independence.
- After that write about how some of the challenges still remain albeit in different forms.
- Write a brief way forward.
- Conclude appropriately.
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How to bounce back strongly after the 2021 prelims failure? | Free webinar by Sajal sir
Failing to qualify Prelims does not mean that you give up! There have been top rankers in the history of UPSC who failed to qualify Prelims multiple times but learned from each mistake and kept improving themselves. Pranav Vijayvargiya (AIR Rank 65) 2020 is the biggest example of this. He failed consecutively in 2 prelims but he kept himself motivated and finally got (AIR Rank 65) under the guidance of Sajal sir.
Fear of failure keeps you from learning and this is not the time to lose hope! It may be a tough situation but there’s still a lot you can learn from it.
Sajal Sir has helped over 400 aspirants secure ranks in the last 6 years. He has helped 30 students secure ranks in the top 100 in UPSC 2020. He knows about success but he also knows how success is built from lessons of failure. He knows how bad the situation may become if you don’t qualify for Prelims but he also knows how to use that learning to crack the exam. And that’s the secret he will share with you in an absolutely free webinar.
What will you learn in the webinar?
- How to keep yourself motivated in this exam process whose gestation period is very high.
2. How to cope up with failures in this exam cycle
3. How to maintain consistency during preparation
3. How to re-start preparation again for the 2022 exam
4. Which mistakes to avoid in your next attempt
5. Blueprint of your preparation plan. When to start preparation for prelims again.
6. How to utilize these next 4 months before you start preparing for prelims again.
7. What to study, From where to study, and how to study.
8. Smart study-related practical strategies which work on the ground.
9. 4-2-4 Model of Preparation
10. Open 1-1 Q&A session with Sajal sir
Join Sajal sir for the free webinar and take the first step towards cracking the exam in the upcoming attempt!
Date: 16/10/21
Time: 7 p.m.
This is what Pranav Vijayvergiya (AIR 65) had to say about his experience of studying under the guidance of Sajal Sir:
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Free mentorship provided by Sajal sir (GS Topper 2017) to students who have just missed the mains cut off off by a whisker ||Aim for 100 marks above cut off in Mains with Smash Mains 2021 : New Batch || Invite only program (only 5 seats remaining) || Register here
With over 80% enrolled students in 2020 attending UPSC interviews, Smash Mains is back again. This is an invite-only program that will start on October 24th, 2021.
Mentorship will be provided free of cost by Sajal Sir. Only administrative cost will be charged. To enroll click here
About Smash Mains 2021
Dear Students,
The fact that you have been missing the cut-off with a small margin (repeatedly) tells that there are some fundamental issues with your approach. You might be aware or not about this. But just realization is not enough, you have to work on its execution as well. And bringing that to fruition will be possible through a guided process under a meticulously designed plan.
Smash mains is a highly personalized and intensive handholding program for the crème-de-la-crème (veterans) amongst UPSC aspirants (the intake is 50 students). Right now we have only 5 seats left.
Note: The Entry is Restricted to those who have appeared in UPSC interview in the past 2 years or have missed the mains cut off by a whisker.
The focus is on identifying and highlighting the issues with your preparation (information / analysis / utilization). According to your strength and weaknesses, a tailor-made strategy is developed. Under Sajal sir’s strict monitoring, incremental improvements are aimed every day, after every session.
Sajal sir’s marks in UPSC 2017 GS Mains paper were:
- GS Paper 1 – 132
- GS Paper 2 – 125
- GS Paper 3 – 130
Progression of Smash Mains 2021
After completing the Mains Test series, you will have a one-to-one detailed and in-depth interaction with Sajal sir. Final refinements are done to every answer. Value addition material, as well as pointers, will be provided here. We will work with you to ensure you have enough material for value addition. Our focus will be on providing tips that add the missing X factor to your answers.
Why is Smash 2021 the best way to prepare for mains?
Individual attention and approachability are the USPs of this program.
Not putting Penguins among the Fowls – You already know how to write an average answer (you’re missing it by a few marks actually). You want to know how to increase your score from 90 to 110-115. The approach followed by other institutes in their Test series is the same for a veteran and a complete newbie and here lies the problem. Without personalized one-to-one interaction with someone like Sajal sir (who has scored these awesome marks), it will be difficult for you to rectify these minute yet very important shortcomings.
Evaluation is a strength of this program and we put it on a high priority. Sajal sir himself is involved in the process, unlike other institutes where evaluation is outsourced to those who themselves might not have appeared for mains (It’s bizarre). It shouldn’t be based on ‘model answers’ as there are 3-4 ways of approaching an answer. Only a seasoned player will be able to go beyond these model answers and be able to appreciate your approach (If it’s innovative) even if it differs from the model answers provided.
Test copies get checked in a time-bound manner. The questions, answers and material provided are of the highest quality.
Always on time and insightful discussions end with a reality check and motivation to perform better in the next test.
Emphasis on execution and utilization of knowledge – Mains is not only about knowledge but the way you express the relevant knowledge in the most optimum manner.
Sajal sir’s interventions are highly specific and not generalized. Sitting right in front of you he walks you through each and every question. Always there, he will not let you lose your focus.
We deliver what we promise.
Why UPSC toppers are convinced that Smash Mains helped them succeed?
Read other answers over here.
The Batch of Smash Mains Program will start from 24th October.
To Enroll Click Here.
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Is India’s current investor rush too much of a good thing?
Human traits driving financial markets
- To imitate and to conform — do what others around us are doing — are common and very powerful human tendencies.
- In financial markets, “herd behaviour” is a warning sign: When markets are doing well, people invest for no other reason than their neighbours having become wealthier (and vice versa).
- There is another human trait that affects markets — success increases risk appetite.
- If someone’s financial investments work, they are very likely to invest more, and ignore safety measures.
Factors driving the private equity investments
- Better physical infrastructure (rural roads, electrification, phone penetration, data access).
- Several layers of innovation (universal bank account access, surging digital payments on the “India Stack”).
- 45 lakh software developers (largest in the world).
- Maturing industries (for example, as research budgets of Indian pharmaceutical manufacturers have grown 10 times in the last 15 years.
- The ecosystem can take on more challenging projects now, versus just generic filings a decade back).
- Strong medium-term economic growth prospects create fertile ground for private equity investments.
- Investors with patient capital (knowing that the businesses will not make money for several years) are now betting on and financing a faster transition to electric vehicles than was earlier anticipated.
- In financial services, innovative methods of lending, insurance underwriting and wealth management are being experimented with, which are likely to only expand the market meaningfully.
- An army of Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) firms have been funded in the hope of revolutionising the development and distribution of software.
- There are also new-age distribution and logistics companies, education technology firms, and branded consumer goods suppliers, in addition to “normal” e-commerce, gaming and food-delivery startups.
Risks involved in a rapid infusion of capital
- Allocation inefficiency: Theoretically, an economy India’s size is capable of absorbing the $52 billion of PE funding seen over the last 12 months, but in practice, such a rapid surge creates allocation inefficiency.
- As investors rush to deploy ever-larger sums of money, they appear to be running out of companies to invest in that can productively deploy this capital.
- The result is companies’ valuations rising manifold within months and small firms getting more capital inflows than they can deploy, often resulting in wasteful business plans.
- When investors rush to deploy funds, the risk of fraud rises — inadequate disclosures and weak due diligence are compounded by incentives to misrepresent financial data.
- The discovery of any such frauds would likely freeze funding for the industry for a few quarters.
Why now?
- India has never lacked entrepreneurs, but lacked risk capital given the low per capita wealth.
- As savers like pension and insurance funds in the developed world responded to record-low interest rates by allocating more to PE as an asset class, private funding markets have grown rapidly in the last 15 years globally.
- In India, PE funding has exceeded public-market fund-raising every year in the past decade.
- While earlier, only a few business groups could muster sizeable amounts of risk capital to establish new businesses and disrupt old ones, entrepreneurs can now lay hands on hundreds of millions of dollars if the idea makes sense.
Conclusion
For now, this flow of funds is a welcome booster for the economy as it recovers from the scars of the pandemic-driven lockdowns. While valuations can be volatile in the near term, we are in the early stages of this reshaping of India’s corporate landscape.
UPSC 2022 countdown has begun! Get your personal guidance plan now! (Click here)
-
Free mentorship provided by Sajal sir (GS Topper 2017) to students who have just missed the mains cut off off by a whisker ||Aim for 100 marks above cut off in Mains with Smash Mains 2021:New Batch || Invite only program (only 5 seats remaining)|| Register here
With over 80% enrolled students in 2020 attending UPSC interviews, Smash Mains is back again. This is an invite-only program that will start on October 24th, 2021.
Mentorship will be provided free of cost by Sajal Sir. Only administrative cost will be charged. To enroll click here
About Smash Mains 2021
Dear Students,
The fact that you have been missing the cut-off with a small margin (repeatedly) tells that there are some fundamental issues with your approach. You might be aware or not about this. But just realization is not enough, you have to work on its execution as well. And bringing that to fruition will be possible through a guided process under a meticulously designed plan.
Smash mains is a highly personalized and intensive handholding program for the crème-de-la-crème (veterans) amongst UPSC aspirants (the intake is 50 students). Right now we have only 5 seats left.
Note: The Entry is Restricted to those who have appeared in UPSC interview in the past 2 years or have missed the mains cut off by a whisker.
The focus is on identifying and highlighting the issues with your preparation (information / analysis / utilization). According to your strength and weaknesses, a tailor-made strategy is developed. Under Sajal sir’s strict monitoring, incremental improvements are aimed every day, after every session.
Sajal sir’s marks in UPSC 2017 GS Mains paper were:
- GS Paper 1 – 132
- GS Paper 2 – 125
- GS Paper 3 – 130
Progression of Smash Mains 2021
After completing the Mains Test series, you will have a one-to-one detailed and in-depth interaction with Sajal sir. Final refinements are done to every answer. Value addition material, as well as pointers, will be provided here. We will work with you to ensure you have enough material for value addition. Our focus will be on providing tips that add the missing X factor to your answers.
Why is Smash 2021 the best way to prepare for mains?
Individual attention and approachability are the USPs of this program.
Not putting Penguins among the Fowls – You already know how to write an average answer (you’re missing it by a few marks actually). You want to know how to increase your score from 90 to 110-115. The approach followed by other institutes in their Test series is the same for a veteran and a complete newbie and here lies the problem. Without personalized one-to-one interaction with someone like Sajal sir (who has scored these awesome marks), it will be difficult for you to rectify these minute yet very important shortcomings.
Evaluation is a strength of this program and we put it on a high priority. Sajal sir himself is involved in the process, unlike other institutes where evaluation is outsourced to those who themselves might not have appeared for mains (It’s bizarre). It shouldn’t be based on ‘model answers’ as there are 3-4 ways of approaching an answer. Only a seasoned player will be able to go beyond these model answers and be able to appreciate your approach (If it’s innovative) even if it differs from the model answers provided.
Test copies get checked in a time-bound manner. The questions, answers and material provided are of the highest quality.
Always on time and insightful discussions end with a reality check and motivation to perform better in the next test.
Emphasis on execution and utilization of knowledge – Mains is not only about knowledge but the way you express the relevant knowledge in the most optimum manner.
Sajal sir’s interventions are highly specific and not generalized. Sitting right in front of you he walks you through each and every question. Always there, he will not let you lose your focus.
We deliver what we promise.
Why UPSC toppers are convinced that Smash Mains helped them succeed?
Read other answers over here.
The Batch of Smash Mains Program will start from 24th October.
To Enroll Click Here.
