SECURE SYNOPSIS: 28 MAY 2019

NOTE: Please remember that following ‘answers’ are NOT ‘model answers’. They are NOT synopsis too if we go by definition of the term. What we are providing is content that both meets demand of the question and at the same time gives you extra points in the form of background information.

1) Evaluate the role played by Conditional Cash Transfer schemes in successfully curbing child marriages and addressing gender inequality.(250 words)

The article provides for a detailed analysis of interlinkages between conditional cash transfers and their role played in addressing gender inequality with special focus on how they curb child marriages. The answer must briefly discuss what are conditional cash transfers, their key role in alleviating poverty. Evaluate – When you are asked to evaluate, you have to pass a sound judgement about the truth of the given statement in the question or the topic based on evidences.  You have to appraise the worth of the statement in question. There is scope for forming a personal opinion here. In a few introductory lines explain what are conditional cash transfer schemes. The answer must explain the following aspects: In what way conditional cash transfers address poverty and other social issues? Problems and causes of child marriage – The reasons for child marriage, a social problem, range from usual factors of poverty, illiteracy and age-old cultural norms to apprehensions about early sexual activity (of adolescent girl in particular), elopement and marriage ‘outside the caste’. For some, early marriage is the resolution of the ‘problem of modernity and mobility’ of young women. Explain in what way conditional cash transfers can empower women? Discuss case studies of – Kalyan Lakshmi and Shaadi Mubarak schemes etc. Explain what are the consequences of it on the society. Conclude with what more is needed to be done to overcome such a social issue.

Conditional cash transfer (CCT) programs aim to reduce poverty by making welfare programs conditional upon the receivers’ actions. The government (or a charity) only transfers the money to persons who meet certain criteria. These criteria may include enrolling children into public schools, getting regular check-ups at the doctor’s office, receiving vaccinations, or the like. TISS, Hyderabad studied the impact of the schemes Kalyana Lakshmi and Shadi Mubarak in Telangana and Chandranna Pelli Kanuka in Andhra Pradesh recently.

The CCTs to curb child marriage need to emphasise legal registration of marriage and not simply rely on certificates by religious community leaders. Tighter administrative control to curb corruption and elimination of political approval at any stage is needed to discourage culture of political patronage. The schemes should be seen as part of initiatives to combat child marriage and thus linked to programmes meant for empowerment of girls through education and livelihood opportunities. This would motivate families to think of education and employment of their daughters, and not marriage, as priority.

2) Discuss the possible Foreign policy challenges awaiting India, as great power rivalry aggravates in international politics bringing disruptions for India at bilateral and regional level. (250 words)

The article discusses in detail the effect of current trends of rivalry between different countries across the world that India will face. The answer must discuss in detail the context, current rivalry that is aggravating the tensions between countries say like that of China and America. One has to discuss in detail impact of such turfs on India. Discuss – This is an all-encompassing directive – you have to debate on paper by going through the details of the issues concerned by examining each one of them. You have to give reasons for both for and against arguments. In a few introductory lines explain the statement in the question. Body of the answer must discuss in detail the current trends of Indian foreign policy, what are the repercussions of international politics that may bring disruptions and challenges to Indian bilateral relations with other countries. Discuss specific key areas of concerns like – Sino- American trade wars, India’s another challenge would be to balance between its Indo-Pacific and Eurasian strategies. Issues of south Asia etc. Conclude with what should be the way forward.

A successful Indian foreign policy, by definition, is one that creates the external circumstances conducive to realizing India’s fundamental aims, namely, protecting its physical security and its decisional autonomy, enlarging its economic prosperity and its technological capabilities, and realizing its status claims on the global stage. Beyond the domestic issues, India faces the same challenges as before in its relations with the rest of the world, which need attention.

The limitations of India’s foreign policy are linked intimately to its weaknesses at home. If India is to realize its great power ambitions in the decades to come, the Government will have to accelerate economic reforms domestically, strengthen India’s institutions, preserve its constitutional ethos, and protect the nation’s internal cohesion, all of which have floundered dangerously in recent years.

3) who is an independent candidate in the elections of India? Discuss the issues associated with independent candidates and their contestations in the elections. Are they unimportant for political representation? Critically analyse.(250 words)

The question is around the fact that Independent candidates are often deemed ‘frivolous’ or ‘spoilers’ by mainstream political figures and authorities, although there is little to no evidence on their effect on elections. It is often found that independent candidates decrease the chances that a Lok Sabha constituency elects a member of the party or coalition that forms the national government. It suggests that participation by independents has a high price – a lesser role for the constituency in policymaking. The answer must discuss who is an independent candidate? Role in deciding election results, pros and cons what are the general recommendation by various committees about it like the law commission report etc. Critically analyze – When asked to analyze, you  have to examine methodically the structure or nature of the topic by separating it into component parts and present them as a whole in a summary. When ‘critically’ is suffixed or prefixed to a directive, one needs to look at the good and bad of the topic and give a fair judgement. write a few introductory lines explain who is an independent candidate in an election. Answer should have the following dimensions covered: Role of independent candidates in elections of India. How do they effect the results? Should independents be discouraged from participating as candidates in elections? –  results for voter turnout and the distribution of vote shares are also consistent with the idea that independents give voters better opportunities to express their preferences. This can improve political representation, as independents are free from the dictates of a party line, and have the flexibility to represent local preferences in a way that party-affiliated candidates often do not. To answer the question of whether independents should be discouraged, we would need to know if these advantages are outweighed by the disadvantages of not electing candidates from the governing party, or coalition of parties, that forms the national government. Conclude with significance and what should be the way forward.

An independent candidate is one who contests polls without being affiliated to any political party. Independents often support policies that are different from major political parties. In its 255th report, the Law Commission of India sparked a debate when it recommended that independent candidates be barred from contesting elections as “they are either not serious or contest elections just to confuse the voters.”

Issues associated with independent candidates and their contestations in the elections:

In Indian democracy any independent fulfilling current eligibility criteria can contest elections as many times. Independents play an important role in elections: they increase citizen knowledge about alternative policies and can facilitate the selection of representatives who are more responsive to their constituents.

4) With the help of Forums like SAARC/ other alternative measures, how can India help build a cohesive south Asia? comment. (250 words)

South Asia is one of the least integrated regions in the world, despite geographical contiguity and historical and cultural links. To fulfil ambitions in Indo-Pacific and beyond, India must work for a cohesive South Asia.

India’s foreign policy with respect to South Asian region is guided by the following principles:

India’s efforts towards a cohesive South Asia can be as follows:

Way forward for India to better realise its interests in South Asia are:

                Geographies are not static; they evolve, sometimes slowly and quickly at others. How we imagine and construct regions changes according to circumstances. India must look at her national interests and strategic autonomy. In the process, she can take along the likeminded neighbours together.

5) What have been the major reasons for the development of solar energy in India despite its high potential? Discuss the achievements so far and challenges in harnessing it. What should be the way forward.(250 words)

National Solar Mission envisages establishing India as a global leader in solar energy. The Mission has set the ambitious target of deploying 100GW of grid connected solar power by 2022. (40 GW Rooftop and 60 GW through Large and Medium Scale Grid Connected Solar Power Projects). The country’s solar installed capacity reached 25.21 GW as of 31 December 2018

The major reasons for the development of solar energy in India:

7) ‘Wherever law ends, tyranny begins.’ Elucidate the statement with its relevance to our country.(250 words)

The question is based on the statement famously given by philosopher John Locke. The answer must discuss in detail how tyranny and law are interrelated. Elucidate – Give a detailed account as to how and why it occurred, or what is the particular context. You must be defining key terms where ever appropriate, and substantiate with relevant associated facts. In a few introductory lines suggest the importance of law. Discuss in detail role played by law in a society/country. Why is law critical to a region? In what way it controls tyranny? Quote some recent examples here to justify. Explain what needs to be done to end tyranny and strengthen law.

The above statement was made by John Locke. The equality of all citizens under the law is a lynch-pin of the modern notion of the rule of law in a democratic state. Maintenance of public order and the rule of law is a key sovereign function of the State, as important in its own way as defending the nation from external aggression or maintaining the unity and integrity of the nation State.

A revolutionary implication of this idea, well appreciated by Locke in the tumultuous 1680s, is that even rulers and their magistrates were also under the “sovereignty of the law”. According to Locke, when any member of the state exceeds his legal authority or in any way violates the law, he ceases “to be a magistrate; and, acting without authority, may be opposed, as any other man, who by force invades the right of another.”

Rule of law inherently incorporates three concepts – supremacy of law, equality before law and predominance of legal spirit.

Dicey elucidated: “When we speak of ‘rule of law’ as a characteristic of our country, not only that with us, no man is above the law, but that here every man, whatever be his rank or condition, is subject to the ordinary law of the realm and amenable to the jurisdiction of the ordinary courts.”

But the question which now arises is whether rule of law actually practiced? Prima facie, one gets a straight and simple answer. Ordinary citizens face the rigour of law just as any public servant charged/convicted of an offence loses his job on the precinct of losing general trust. But does law take similar toll on politicians? Would an action be taken on them through the process of law or just by an adverse public opinion?

In theory, the Indian criminal justice system does not discriminate in favour of influential persons, yet, in practice, politicians are seldom punished for their criminal offences. Although the police personnel and politicians taken identical oaths i.e. to uphold the rule of law and preserve the sanctity of the constitution, policemen conspicuously witness politicians supporting only their caste and community.

e.g.: In the Priyadarshini Mattoo case, the status of the accused Santosh Kumar Singh, who was the son of a former Inspector General of Police, resulted in sub-standard investigation. This was responsible for granting benefit of doubt to the accused by the trial court. It was only due to media activism that the prosecution succeeded in getting an early hearing by the High Court and subsequently the judgment of the trial court was over-ruled. Subsequently, death penalty was awarded to Santosh Kumar Singh. The court condemned the brutal rape and murder by implicating it in ‘rarest of the rare’ cases.

E.g.: Corruption has seeped in at all levels of governance. Be it the Commonwealth Games scam, the Adarsh Housing Society scam, the 2G spectrum allocation scam; the list is increasing day by day.

The whole criminal justice system needs overhauling so that the constitutional mandate of equality before law is made meaningful and it should not be the case that higher courts are kept occupied by the persons with money or power, as in the case today. Our salvation lies in following and enforcing the principles of natural justice and rule of law.

Source: Insightsonindia.com

Powered by NewsAPI.org

Keywords:

Time • Conditional cash transfer • Child marriage • Gender inequality • Gender inequality • Attention • Child marriage • Judgement • Truth • Proposition • Proposition • Conditional cash transfer • Social issue • Child marriage • Child marriage • Social issue • Poverty • Literacy • Ageing • Old age • Norm (social) • Human sexual activity • Adolescence • Girl • Caste • Child marriage • Age of Enlightenment • Social issue • Conditional cash transfer • United States Air Force Combat Control Team • Poverty reduction • Welfare • Causality • Direct action • Government • Money • Child • TISS Hyderabad • Lakshmi • Telangana • Pelli Kanuka • Andhra Pradesh • Child marriage in India • Civil registration • Political corruption • Culture • Patronage • Child marriage • Empowerment • Girl • Equal opportunity • Family • Same-sex marriage • Foreign policy • British Raj • Great power • International relations • British Raj • British Raj • China • America One • India • Foreign relations of India • International relations • Bilateralism • China–United States relations • Trade war • British Raj • Indo-Pacific • Eurasia • South Asia • Foreign relations of India • Physical security • Autonomy • Prosperity • Technology • Social status • Globalization • India • International relations • British Raj • Foreign policy • British Raj • Great power • Government • British Raj • Institution • Protectionism • Nation • Group cohesiveness • Election • British Raj • Spoiler (aeronautics) • Election • Independent politician • Lok Sabha • Electoral district • Political party • Coalition government • Central government • Independent politician • Electoral district • Policy • Independent politician • Law commission • Nature • Introduction (music) • Independent politician • Election • India • Independent politician • Voter turnout • Independent politician • Voting • Equal opportunity • Independent politician • Party line (politics) • Independent politician • Coalition government • National unity government • Independent politician • One-party state • Election • Political party • Independent politician • Political party • Law Commission of India • Election • Election • Election • Election • Independent politician • Election • Citizenship • Knowledge • Policy • Representative democracy • Voting • South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation • British Raj • South Asia • South Asia • History • Culture • Indo-Pacific • British Raj • South Asia • India • Foreign policy • Value (ethics) • British Raj • South Asia • British Raj • South Asia • Autonomy • Solar power in India • Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission • India • Solar energy • Grid-connected photovoltaic power system • Solar power • Watt • Rooftop photovoltaic power station • Economies of scale • Grid-connected photovoltaic power system • Solar power • Nameplate capacity • Solar power in India • Tyrant • Statement (logic) • Relevance theory • Statement (logic) • Philosopher • John Locke • Law • Contextualism • Fact • Society • Nation state • Critical theory • Tyrant • Tyrant • Statement (logic) • John Locke • Egalitarianism • Citizenship • Lynching • Modernism • Notion (philosophy) • Rule of law • Democracy • Public-order crime • Rule of law • Sovereignty • Aggression • Cooperation • Integrity • Nation state • Revolution • Logical consequence • Idea • John Locke • Monarch • Magistrate • Sovereignty • Law • John Locke • State (polity) • Rational-legal authority • Magistrate • Rights • Rule of law • Concept • Rule of law • Equality before the law • Law • A. V. Dicey • Rule of law • Above the Law (group) • Jurisdiction • Court • Rule of law • Prima facie • Citizenship • Law • Civil service • Indictment • Crime • Employment • Trust law • Law • Politics • Law • Public opinion • Criminal justice • Person • Practice of law • Politics • Criminal law • Politics • Oath • Rule of law • Constitution • Witness • Caste system in India • Community • Priyadarshini Mattoo • Case law • Social status • Inspector-general of police • Criminal procedure • Trial court • Media activism • Prosecutor • Hearing (law) • High Court of Justice • Judgment (law) • Trial court • Capital punishment • Rape • Murder • Political corruption • Concerns and controversies over the 2010 Commonwealth Games • Adarsh Housing Society scam • Equality before the law • Meaning of life • Case law • Court • Occupation (protest) • Person • Money • Power (social and political) • Case law • Salvation • Natural justice • Rule of law •