Mains Test 7 (Sample Answers)

MAINS MOCK TEST-7 2019(SAMPLE SOLUTIONS)
Q.1 “The recent Child Labour Act of 2016 takes up from where the constitutional obligation under
Article 24 ends”. Critically examine. (10 marks, 150 words)
Approach:
● Introduce with definition and statistics of child labour.
● Brief description of article 24.
● Loopholes in article 24.
● Provisions of Child Labour Act, 2016 as an improvement over article 24.
● Conclude with positive note or suggest solution.
Model Answer:
According to International Labour Organisation, the term ‘child labour’ is defined as the ‘work that
deprives children of their childhood, their potential and their dignity, and that is harmful to physical
and mental development.’ ILO’s World Report on Child Labour 2015 says that one in every eleven
children in India is working. Numerous causes can be attributed to this such as poverty, illiteracy,
lack of access to education, increasing demand for child labour etc.
Article 24 has been guaranteed as the fundamental right which prohibits the employment of
children below the age of 14 years in any factory, mine or other hazardous activities like
construction work or railway.
statistics of child labour in India
As per Census 2011, the total child population in India in the age group (5-14) years is 259.6 million.
Of these, 10.1 million (3.9% of total child population) are working, either as ‘main worker’ or as
‘marginal worker’. In addition, more than 42.7 million children in India are out of school.
 More than half of the 5.5 million working children in India are concentrated in five states—
Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.
 Adolescents doing hazardous work form 20.7% of those employed in this age group, while
almost 25% of adults work in hazardous conditions.
 More boys (38.7 million) than girls (8.8 million) are involved in hazardous work.
Shortfalls of Article 24:
1. Does not provide a blanket ban on child labour for children under 14.
2. Does not discuss about children from 14-18 years of age.
3. Violations not dealt with.
4. Not in conformity with Article 21A- Right to Education.
5. Does not provide for rehabilitation of freed child labourers.

© APTI PLUS ACADEMY FOR CIVIL SERVICES
Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 2016 provisions for plugging the loopholes:
1. The Act completely bans employment of children below 14 in all occupations and enterprises,
with a few exceptions, provided that education is not hampered.
2. The Act has provided for a new category of persons called “adolescent”, ie, between 14 to 18
years and bars their employment in hazardous occupations.
3. The Act makes child labour a cognizable offence and specifies punishment. [Employing children
below 14 years will attract a jail term between 6 months to two years (earlier 3 months to 1 year) or
a penalty between twenty-thousand to fifty thousand rupees or both for the first time.]
4. The Act has provided for creating a Rehabilitation Fund for the rehabilitation of children.
Therefore, it can be said the Child Labour Act 2016 takes up from where the constitutional obligation
under Article 24 ends but some shortfalls remain like:
● It has reduced the list of hazardous occupations for children (from 83 to 3- mining, explosives and
occupations mentioned in the Factory Act) allowing children to be employed in hazardous chemical
mixing units, battery recycling units, among others.
● It allows child labour in “family or family enterprises” or allows the child to be “an artist in an
audio-visual entertainment industry”. *According to the UNICEF India, permitting children to work in
their family enterprises would lead to more children working in unregulated conditions. It may
restrict the children especially the poor children belonging to low caste to traditional caste-based
occupations for generations. Also, it may be difficult to determine whether an enterprise is owned
by a family or some person has employed the whole family to run the enterprise. The girl and child
are particularly prone to more exploitation.]
● The bill has also expanded the definition of family to include not only parents and siblings but also
the siblings of either parent.
● The Act also does not define the hours of work; it simply states that children may work after
school hours or during vacations which ignores the necessary time for recreation for children.
Elimination of poverty, free and compulsory education, proper and strict implementation of the
labour laws, abolishment of child trafficking, pro-active work of social organisations, international
cooperation etc. are other steps needed for solving the problem of child labour.
LEGISLATIONS FOR
PREVENTING CHILD LABOUR
IN INDIA
● Juvenile Justice (Care
● Child Labour Prohibition and
and
Regulation
Protection of Children)
Act
Act
● Protection of Children
● Bonded Labour System
from
(Abolition) Act
Sexual Offence Act.
● The Narcotic Drugs and ● Right of Children to
Psychotropic Free and
Substance Act Compulsory Education
Act (RTE)
● Immoral Traffic
● Children (Pledging of
(Prevention) Act
Labour) Act (1933)
(1956)
Q.2 It is often argued that corruption in India arises from opaque nature of political funding. In this
light, analyze whether state funding of elections will prove to be a remedy for cleansing the
electoral system. (10 marks, 150 words)
Approach:
 Briefly state how the opaque process of political funding is the root cause of all corruption.
 Body: Mention the pros and cons of state funding of elections.
 Conclusion: Suggest some measure. Example: recommendations of Tarkunde committee.
Model Answer:
There is a symbiotic linkage between democratic politics and corruption in India largely because of
the root cause of opaque process of political funding. The flawed political party-funding and election
expenditure laws drive parties and politicians to misuse the government’s discretionary powers over
resource-allocation to raise funds for fighting elections and sustaining political parties.
STATE FUNDING OF ELECTIONS:
The state funding of elections has been suggested in the past in response to the high cost of
elections and as a measure against corruption in the electoral process. Many of the government
panels on electoral reforms have expressed their ideas on the issue.
1. The Indrajit Gupta Committee on State Funding of Elections had endorsed partial state funding of
recognised political parties and their candidates in elections way back in 1998. This committee
endorsed Partial state funding of elections with some limitations given below. State funds should be
given only to national and state parties allotted a symbol and not to independent candidates.
2. India’s privately funded election campaign stands in contrast to the trend in most countries, which
have partial or full public funding or transparent regulation and financial accountability of political
finance.
HOW STATE FUNDING OF ELECTIONS HELP?
1. Corruption exists in the present funding system. Corruption in election finance and the flawed
party funding system drive political parties to misuse government’s discretionary powers to raise
funds for election campaigns. Public funding can limit the influence of interested money and thereby
help curb corruption.
2. The recent initiative of electoral bond is also not going to cleanse the electoral system. It actually
turns out to be a half-hearted reform marked by ad-hocism. Electoral bonds cannot address the
problems that arise from the corporate control over politics and corporate capture of government
policies and decisions. Hence, it is high time that the root malaise is addressed by state funding of
elections.

3. Political parties and candidates need money for their electoral campaigns, to keep contacts with
their constituencies, to prepare policy decisions and to pay professional staff. Therefore, state
funding of elections is a natural and necessary cost of democracy.
4. State funding can increase transparency in party and candidate finance and thereby help curb
corruption.
5. If parties and candidates are financed with only private funds, economical inequalities in the
society might translate into political inequalities in government. This also necessitates state funding
of elections for the sake of egalitarian outcomes in democracy.
ISSUES WITH STATE FUNDING OF ELECTIONS
1. Experience from different countries: The experience over a period of time in some of the
countries like Italy, Finland, Spain, Austria and Israel did not show that the public funding had
reduced the election expenditure of political parties.
2. The principal point against the State subvention to political parties was that a political party was a
free association of citizens for political purposes and it should be able to demonstrate its
independent viability including its financial viability.
3. Complete State Funding is not feasible: State Funding of elections depends on economic condition
of the country. Currently, India’s economy afflicted with problems like NPA (Non-Performing Assets)
in banks, fiscal deficit, resource crunch etc. does not have the broad fiscal capacity to go for
complete state funding without inviting further economic problems.
4. State funding may succeed only when it is total and not partial, because there is no guarantee that
even after it was introduced, rich parties and candidates would not pump black money into
campaigns to boost their chances of victory. Partial funding leaves scope for the party to use its
funds for campaigns of individual candidates. This means it would not be able to prevent the use of
black money.
5. State funding would also result in increased capacity of the political parties to spend on election
campaigns making the elections even more costly. It would even encourage the mushrooming of
parties as such grants would be a great incentive for even non-serious and frivolous organizations to
call themselves as political outfits.
6. From various experiences, it is clear that the State funding has neither cleaned the corruption, nor
freed the political parties of their financial burden. With mounting expenditure on the Central and
State governments, State funding would be an additional financial burden on them.
While there is no magic wand to cure corruption, systemic and entrenched as it is, we should start
with the root cause—party finance— and then move on to other complementary reforms. We must
tighten election expenditure laws.

Q.3 The CAG is an institution through which the accountability of the government and other public
authorities — all those who spend public funds — to Parliament and State Legislatures and
through them to the people is ensured. Comment. (10 marks, 150 words)
Approach:
 Define the Constitutional mandate of CAG

 Body: Discuss the role of CAG in ensuring accountability of Government and Public
authorities. Also discuss the limited powers of CAG in audit of Public Authorities.
 Conclusion: Provide a way forward
Model Answer:
Article 148 of the Constitution of India provides for an independent office of the Comptroller and
Auditor General of India (CAG). He is the guardian of the public purse and controls the entire
financial system of the country at both the levels- the centre and state. His duty is to uphold the
Constitution of India and the laws of Parliament in the field of financial administration.
ROLE OF CAG IN ENSURING PARLIAMENTARY ACCOUNTABILITY
The duties and functions of the CAG as laid down by the Parliament and the Constitution to ensure
Parliamentary accountability are:
1. He audits the accounts related to all expenditure from the Consolidated Fund of India,
consolidated fund of each state and consolidated fund of each union territory having a Legislative
Assembly.
2. He audits all expenditure from the Contingency Fund of India and the Public Account of India as
well as the contingency fund of each state and the public account of each state.
3. He audits all trading, manufacturing, profit and loss accounts, balance sheets and other subsidiary
accounts kept by any department of the Central Government and state governments.
4. He audits the receipts and expenditure of the Centre and each state to satisfy himself that the
rules and procedures in that behalf are designed to secure an effective check on the assessment,
collection and proper allocation of revenue.
5. He audits the receipts and expenditure of the following:
(a) All bodies and authorities substantially financed from the Central or state revenues;
(b) Government companies; and
(c) Other corporations and bodies, when so required by related laws.
6. CAG can also conduct the propriety audit, that is, to look into the ‘wisdom, faithfulness and
economy of government expenditure and comment on the wastefulness and extravagance of such
expenditure.
7. He audits all transactions of the Central and state governments related to debt, sinking funds,
deposits, advances, suspense accounts and remittance business. He also audits receipts, stock
accounts and others, with approval of the President, or when required by the President.

8. He audits the accounts of any other authority when requested by the President or Governor, e.g.
the audit of local bodies.
9. He advises the President with regard to prescription of the form in which the accounts of the
Centre and the states shall be kept (Article 150).
10. He submits his audit reports relating to the accounts of the Centre to President, who shall, in
turn, place them before both the Houses of Parliament (Article 151).
11. He submits his audit reports relating to the accounts of a state to governor, who shall, in turn,
place them before the state legislature (Article 151).
12. He ascertains and certifies the net proceeds of any tax or duty (Article 279). His certificate is
final. The ‘net proceeds’ means the proceeds of a tax or a duty minus the cost of collection.
13. He acts as a guide, friend and philosopher of the Public Accounts Committee of the Parliament.
E.g. CAG played a significant role in unearthing scams like 2G SPECTRUM, COAL SCAM, etc.
14. He compiles and maintains the accounts of state governments. In this context, State Public
accountability has been ensured. E.g. Fodder scam in Bihar, irregularities in Krishna-Godavari D6 Gas
block, etc.
LIMITATIONS OF CAG WITH RESPECT TO AUDIT OF PUBLIC AUTHORITIES:
1. The secret service expenditure is a limitation on the auditing role of the CAG. In this regard, the
CAG cannot call for particulars of expenditure incurred by the executive agencies, but has to accept a
certificate from the competent administrative authority that the expenditure has been so incurred
under his authority.
2. The Constitution of India visualizes the CAG to be Comptroller as well as Auditor General.
However, in practice, the CAG is fulfilling the role of an Auditor-General only and not that of a
Comptroller. In other words, ‘the CAG has no control over the issue of money from the consolidated
fund and many departments are authorised to draw money by issuing cheques without specific
authority from the CAG
3. The role of CAG in the auditing of public corporations is limited. Many important Public
Corporations are outside the ambit of CAG audit, e.g. LIC, RBI, Food Corporation of India.
Former CAG of India, Mr. Vinod Rai has suggested amendments to the CAG Act of 1971 to keep pace
with the changes in governance. These include bringing in all private-public partnerships (PPPs),
Panchayati Raj Institutions and government-funded societies, within the ambit of the CAG Audit.
This will make accountability of Government and Public Authorities much deeper and stronger.
Q.4 “Social sectoral development in India is mainly hampered by underutilization of budget

outlays and not merely by the inadequacy of those outlays.” Highlight the factors constraining the
utilization of plan outlays in the social sectors and suggest remedial measures. (10 marks, 150
words)
Approach:
 Briefly highlight on state of social sector spending - substantiate with data.

 Body: a) Highlight the present scenario and the factors constraining utilization of budgetary
outlays. b) Suggest remedial measures for the problem of underutilization.

Model Answer:
India's total annual public spending on social sectors is less than 7% of GDP in 2017-18 (BE). In
contrast, average budgetary spending on social sectors in the OECD countries is 21% of GDP. A major
concern apart from this fact is the under-utilization of plan outlays by the states due to the
institutional and procedural bottlenecks in the process of implementation of plans and schemes.
Examples: Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report 2017-18 highlights that while very
significant amounts have been raised from cesses, it has not been utilised properly for the stated
purpose, thereby defeating the very rationale of its existence. Health ministry, which proposes to
increase its budget for family planning in the next financial year, failed to use about 40% of its
allocation for family planning programmes in the current financial year according to the ministry’s
Financial Management Report 2016-17.
FACTORS:
Apart from institutional and procedural bottlenecks in the process of implementation of plan
schemes, there are deficiencies in the planning process being followed at the district level.
1. Shortage of staff to carry out planning activities, lack of emphasis on training and capacity building
of staff and community leaders for decentralized planning, and inadequate emphasis on community
participation in the planning process.
2. Bottlenecks in budgetary processes in the schemes, such as delay in the flow of funds, in releasing
sanction orders for spending, decision-making in the States being centralized, insufficient delegation
of financial powers to the district/subdistrict level authorities.
3. Systemic weaknesses, manifested as shortage of trained, regular staff for various important roles
like programme management, accounts and frontline service provision; this contributes to
weakening of the capacities of the government apparatus in the States for implementation of plan
schemes.
4. Inability of the state governments to fully utilize the available funds in the Central schemes is
rooted in systemic weaknesses in the government apparatus in social sectors across many states—
the rigidity in the norms, guidelines and unit costs governing the Central schemes and the lack of
fiscal decentralization from Centre to state governments as well as from state government to local
governments.
5. Lack of formally assigned space in which civil society organisations can participate and
communicate the needs at a grassroots level to the state administration. Capacity building of civil
society actors across
the country on government budgets remains poor and reflects in quality of participation of these
actors in the pre-budget consultations at the national and state levels.
6. Most departments of the government have completely missed out on an important element of
using performance data in the expenditure planning process. This aspect is considerably important
for a country in order to make informed decisions to optimally use the scarce resources.
REMEDIAL MEASURES FOR THE PROBLEM OF UNDER- UTILIZATION

1. Need to strengthen expenditure planning and management through use of performance
information.
2. District-level budget tracking exercises focusing on a number of schemes – for developing

appropriate methods for tracking budgets in specific sectors at the sub-district level.
3. Institutionalize pre-budget consultations with civil society budget groups and redesign the
consultations in order to rope in all relevant Union Ministries into the same.
4. Local financing and fiscal authority should be linked to service provision responsibilities and
functions so that local politicians can deliver on their promises and be held accountable for their
decisions.
5. The institutional and procedural bottlenecks in planning, fund flow and fund utilization processes
need to be removed through concerted efforts by both the Centre and the states.
6. Communities must have the information on public sector performance that allows them to react
and to hold officials and politicians accountable. Community Radio programme can be harnessed as
effective means for information dissemination.
It is true that unspent balances continue to be high in many of the Centre’s flagship social sector
schemes, but the notion that the problem lies only with inefficient implementation is not correct, as
it overlooks the causal factors underlying the trend of poor utilization of funds in social sector
programmes. India’s commitment towards achievement of Sustainable Development Goals
mandates increased budgetary outlays for social sector along with better scientific methods of
targeting and monitoring.
Q.5 Systemic reforms can help reduce the scope for corruption. What reforms would you suggest
in the legislative, executive and judicial organs of the state to combat the menace of corruption?
(10 marks, 150 words)
Approach:
 Briefly mention about systemic reforms

 Body: Give arguments how they will curb corruption.
 Enlist some reforms in 3 organs of state.
Model Answer:
Systemic reforms are introduced to improve the ways of doing work so that scope for corrupt
practices can be eliminated. These reforms can be taken place in institutions, policies and/or
processes/procedures. A holistic approach for combating corruption would require an optimum mix
of punitive and preventive measures. Punitive measures act as a deterrent whereas preventive
measures reduce opportunities for corruption by making systems transparent, increasing
accountability, reducing discretion, rationalizing procedures etc. Better preventive measures act as
‘Systemic Reforms’ as they seek to improve systems and processes.
SYSTEMIC REFORMS CAN DEAL WITH CORRUPTION IN MYRIAD WAYS
1. They will institutionalize the measures.
2. It will provide optimum mixture of preventive and punitive measures.

3. It will disseminate best practices
4. It will ensure citizens participation in curbing corruption.
Systemic reforms need to be taken in Legislative, Executive and Judicial organs of the state to attack
holistically on menace of corruption.
LEGISLATIVE REFORMS
1. Promoting transparency within political parties, their funding and operations.
2. Codifying the parliament and legislative privileges.
3. Ensuring healthy and informed discussions and debates.
4. Taking out the impact assessment of various laws. Promoting transparency and strengthening
accountability channels.
5. Emphasis should be laid on proactive vigilance
6. effective implementation of Citizen charters and strengthening grievance redressal mechanism.
7. Reducing discretion at various levels.
8. Strengthening citizen participation avenues.
9. Promoting usage of information and communication technology.
10.Creating transparency and openness in government spending.
11. Strengthening SFIO, CBI, CVC by giving them due autonomy and resources while curbing political
interference in working is a much-needed step.
JUDICIAL REFORMS
1. Promoting transparency via incorporating them into ambit of RTI act to the extent possible.
2. Establishing an open and fair procedure for appointment structure, especially with regard to merit
and against tendencies towards nepotism.
3. Strengthening judicial accountability.
4. Steps need to be taken to ensure that judges declared as Special Judges under the provisions of
the Prevention of Corruption Act should give primary attention to disposal of cases under the Act.
5. The Supreme court and High Court may lay down guidelines to preclude unwarranted
adjournments and avoidable delays.
EXECUTIVE REFORMS
Executive reform incorporated in the legal and institutional mechanism of government.
1. Promoting transparency and strengthening accountability channels.
2. Emphasis should be laid on proactive vigilance.
3. Strengthening grievance redressal mechanism.
4. Reducing discretion at various levels.

5. Strengthening citizen participation avenues.
6. Promoting usage of information and communication technology.
7. Promoting transparency via incorporating RTI act
8. Paying civil servants well.
9. Replacing regressive and distorting subsidies with targeted cash transfers.
10. Ending red-Tapism.
11. Each Ministry/Department may undertake an immediate exercise to identify areas where the
existing ‘monopoly of functions’ can be tempered with competition.
12. Integrity pacts to promote transparency and create confidence in public contracting.
13. Each office should make an annual public statement regarding pending audit queries.
Q.6 How far do you agree with the view that the focus on lack of availability of food is the main
cause of hunger that takes the attention away from ineffective human development policies in
India? (10 marks, 150 words)
Approach:
 Data on hunger in India.

 Body: Explain how lack of food has caused hunger and ineffective human development
policies have caused hunger.
 Conclusion: Address the ‘takes the attention away’ part and take a balanced stand-
attributing hunger as a result of both factors.
Model Answer:
According to FAO estimates in ‘The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World, 2018” report,
195.9 million people (14.8% of population) are undernourished (food deprived) in India. Despite
achieving food self-sufficiency, continued existence of hunger points to defects in policy and
implementation of food safety mechanisms.
LACK OF AVAILABILITY OF FOOD AS MAIN CAUSE OF HUNGER
1. Food Wastage: The Central Institute of Post-Harvest Engineering and Technology (CIPHET),
Ludhiana has estimated the annual value of harvest and post-harvest losses of major agricultural
produces at national level to be of the order of INR 92,651 Crore. This includes INR 20,698 Cr worth
cereals and INR 40,811 Cr worth fruits and vegetables.
2. Inefficient transportation and distribution of food: Dichotomy of food surplus areas (Western UP,
Punjab and Haryana) and hunger prone areas- KBK districts (Koraput, Balangir and Kalahandi)
3. Issues of technological upgradation and insensitiveness of officials: Identification and distribution

of PDS using new technology (JAM) in underdeveloped is a challenging task. In these remote tribal
areas, corrupt officials make hunger deaths inevitable creating ‘man-made starvation’.

4. Pilferages and diversion: Black marketing of food grains has deprived deserving people of their
entitled share.
INEFFECTIVE HUMAN DEVELOPMENT POLICIES AS A CAUSE OF HUNGER
1. Human development policies are not driven by the idea that Right to food is a fundamental right.
The citizen's right to be free from hunger enshrined in Article 21 is to be ensured by the fulfillment
of the obligations of the State set out in Article 47.
2. Right to food needs to undergo a paradigm shift from the domain of benevolence to that of the
right of a citizen.
3. Qualitative aspect of hunger eradication programmes and schemes has not been consistent.
Example-Cases of poisoning in Mid-Day Meal scheme.
4. Funding of programmes has been inadequate to create consistent and meaningful outcomes.
Examples-Underpaid ASHA workers; Village child development centers in Maharashtra, set up to
provide nutritious meal became non-functional due to absence of funds (2016)
5. Myopic approach of programmes and schemes not able to tackle issues holistically. Example:
Caste barriers affecting outcomes-Cases of pregnant women beneficiaries refused to consume food
prepared by Anganwadi workers belonging to scheduled caste (UP, 2016)
6. Lack of integration and convergence among numerous government-run social schemes for
effective poverty eradication, hence addressing causes of undernourishment. Example: Lack of
convergence of Integrated Child Development Services with schemes related to water, health and
sanitation
7. Multiplicity of schemes and agencies under different ministries, and lack of coordination among
them.
8. Lack of access to information regarding various government initiatives for the intended
beneficiaries leads to black marketing, pilferage, wastage and underutilization of the same.
9. Faulty planning of hunger and poverty alleviation programmes lead to ineffective outcomes
despite being implemented for decades. Example: National Food Security Act, 2013 does not
guarantee Universal Right to Food. This is apart from exclusion errors in its implementation. The
debate on ineffectiveness of human development policies is a multifaceted issue resulting in an
endless debate. What is visible is the dichotomy of food self-sufficiency of the country and ‘man-
made starvation’ in its pockets.
Hunger is indeed one of the worst forms of violence and to eliminate it, integration of human
development imperatives and policies underlying it is. Hence the achievement of food self-
sufficiency has to work hand in hand with an effective human development policy implementation
to address the scourge of hunger and malnutrition.
Q.7 Sexual harassment in workplaces is being recognised – but much more must need to be done.
Suggest measures to be undertaken for building a healthy work culture. (10 marks, 150 words)
Approach:
 Define Sexual harassment and its root cause.

 Body: Discuss the initiatives taken by the government and others. Suggest measure to weed
out the menace from our society.
 Conclusion: Suggest a way forward for building a healthy work culture.
Model Answer:
Sexual harassment is action or behavior with a sexual connotation that is abusive, injurious and
unwelcomed and makes a person feel offended, humiliated and/or intimidated. The ILO recognizes
Sexual harassment at workplace, both as an instrument of gender discrimination and violence
against women. The rising cases of sexual harassment has its root cause in the prevailing notion of
objectification of women and patriarchal mindset of the society which considers women as
subordinate to men.
Between 2015-2017, a total of 1631 cases have been filed under the Sexual Harassment of Women
at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013, which is exclusive many cases which
go unreported.
INITIATIVES
Lately, due to proactive measures by the Government and activism of the society, sexual harassment
at workplace is being recognized as a major issue prevailing in the corporate work cultures.
1. SEBI guidelines 2012: making mandatory for Companies to file a Business Responsibility Report
annually that lists details of the sexual harassment complaints the company has received.
2. Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013.
3. Constitution of Internal Complaints Committee made mandatory under the Companies Act, 2013.
4. SHe-Box (Sexual Harassment Electronic Box): by the Ministry of Women and Child Development to
serve as an online platform to register complaints of Sexual Harassment at workplace.
5. Me too # movement: where women are bravely coming out on social and other media to reports
incidents of sexual harassment.
MUCH NEEDS TO BE DONE
A survey conducted by Indian National Bar Association revealed that nearly 70% of women did not
complain about sexual harassment at workplace due to fear, embarrassment, lack of confidence in
complaint mechanism, unawareness, and due to stigma attached to sexual harassment. Hence, to
build a healthy work culture in organization, apart from the punitive measures, the following
proactive measures must be adopted:
1. Infusing Gender diversity: Organisations should focus on gender diversity at a workplace not only
in terms of increasing numbers of women but also ensuring a safe working environment for them
and that their voices are heard.
2. CCTV surveillance: to create a safe and transparent environment in offices for women to work
without fear of Sexual harassment.
3. Training and awareness: It is important for organizations to educate their employees on proper
conduct at the workplace, conduct regular training and aware about severe repercussions of any
unwelcome behavior. Women employees should be made aware of their rights and about what
constitutes sexual harassment at workplace
4. Infusing greater transparency: In the functioning of Internal Complaints committee. Example: To
record the proceeding to be seen by a District Judge in case of an Appeal.
5. Unorganized sector: Concerned state governments should take urgent steps to examine the
establishment and functioning of ICCs and address issues of sexual harassment in unorganized
sector.
6. Name and Shame strategy: To create a disincentive for the potential perpetrators of sexual
harassment.
The issue of sexual harassment cannot be addressed by mere enactment of laws. Sincere efforts
need to be made in overcoming stereotypes, narrow-mindedness and gender biasness. All the
stakeholders of the society from Government to the civil society need to strive for a larger
attitudinal and behavioral changes in the society to recognize a woman’s right to live with dignity
and to see her as an equal counterpart in any organization.
Q.8 “Urbanization in India has been a double-edged sword for women.” Discuss. (10 marks, 150
words)
Approach:
 Introduce by defining Urbanisation.

 How Urbanisation has affected women positively
 How Urbanisation has affected women negatively
 Conclude with how negative impacts be mitigated and positive enhanced.
Model Answer:
Urbanization refers to the process of a shift from agrarian rural living to a largely non agrarian city
life. While the process has been hailed as a symbol of growth, it has been a two edged sword for
women in India with both positive and negative impacts.
Positive Impacts:
● The status of women in urban areas is higher than that of rural women.
● The greater independence of women in urban areas is the result of better opportunities for paid
employment outside the family, better access to services, lower fertility rates, and some relaxation
of the rigid social values and norms.
● Women in urban areas are comparatively more educated and aware about her rights.
● Easy access to health services in urban areas has reduced health risks among women.
● Modern and increased transportation facilities have made working women’s life easy.
● Politically also, the urban women are more active than their rural counterparts
● Urban centers provide access to economic resources and institutional support to help women
cope with violence.
Negative Impacts:

For the women who are a part of urbanisation:
● Poor living conditions- Increasing cost of urbane living, has led to springing up of slums, insanitary
living conditions, absence of potable drinking water, etc.
● Crime- Very high incidence of violence. E.g. Delhi is also called the rape capital of India.
● Dual workload on women- Jobs as well as household chores results in fatigue, anxiety disorders
and other health problems.
● Loneliness- Aged women experience an intensified empty-nest-syndrome after the children grow
up and get busy in their lives due to lack of Communitarian lifestyle.
● Many women become victims of trafficking by touts who lure them on the promises of better
opportunities in urban areas.
For the women who are left out of urbanisation:
● Lack of education: Inadequate educational facilities for women in rural areas hinders their
accessibility. Security and other patriarchal factors prevent them from being sent to cities for better
education.
● Manual labour - As a greater number of working age men move to cities to earn more, agriculture
is eventually becoming feminized- forcing women into low productivity back breaking work.
● Poor health- health indicators for women in rural areas- Maternal mortality, anemia, etc. are
poorer as compared to those in urban areas.
● Rural women are more perceptible to dogmatic discrimination and violence such as seen in
incidences involving khap panchayats, caste-based violence against women, etc.
Thus, there is a need to blunt the negative edge of this sword mitigating the ill effects and sharpen
the positive one thereby enhancing the good effects.
Q.9 “The demographic makeup of a nation plays a critical role in its socio-economic development.”
Discuss the constraints which hinders India from utilizing its demographic potential. Suggest
innovative measures to address the same. (10 marks, 150 words)
Approach:
● Introduce with India’s demographic structure and its relation with socio-economic development.
● Constraints in utilizing demographic potential.
● Ways to effectively utilize it.
Model Answer:
Indian demography is at an advantageous position where according to 2011 Census of India, 60.29%
of population falls in the working age group (15-59 years). Ideally such demography should translate
to low dependency ratio, high productivity per unit population, high growth and decent socio-
economic development.
Various Constraints in utilizing the Demographic Potential are:
1. Very low percentage of formally skilled workforce, (only 4.69% as opposed to 96% in South
Korea).
2. Low literacy level of 74.04%, poor state of quality of school education and lack of employability of
college pass-outs due to mismatch of course and required skills.
3. Poor health indicators such as high IMR, MMR and incidence of preventable communicable
diseases.
4. Patriarchal mind set in general which leads to the labour force participation rate of women in
India to a mere 27% (as per 2013, NSSO survey).
5. Close to 93% of Indian economy falls under informal sector with low labour productivity
6. External influence of worldwide slowdown leading to shortage of investments.
7. Limited financial inclusion and lack of access to formal credit limits small scale self-employment
ventures.
Various measures have been initiated under an Integrated approach by the government of India to
deal with these constraints like Make-in-India, Skill India, PMJDY and Digital India are designed to
collectively address the issues of skill development, elimination of systemic bottlenecks and
investment generation in the country. These in turn will have a manifold impact in unleashing India's
demographic potential. More directly, various schemes like USTAAD, UDAN, Right to Education Act,
National Health Mission, Jan Dhan Yojana, etc have been launched to effectively tackle every single
constraint holding back the demographic dividend.
Innovative measures like evolving a National Youth Engagement Policy framework that integrates
community and national sensitivity development, Industry-education linkages along with skill
development will go a long way in solving problems relating to the demographic dividend in India.
Also, Health for All, Affordable credit as through MUDRA scheme and development of Crowd funding
as a source of funding in India will solve many bottlenecks to demographic success.
Capitalising on demographic potential of India is a sine-qua-non for attaining the double-digit growth
rate that we have been aiming for. It is time now to put focus all our efforts towards the same to
move forward in that direction.
Q.10 “E-Governance reduces the quantity of government and increases the quality of
governance.” Substantiate with examples. (10 marks, 150 words)
Approach:
 Define E-governance.
 How it reduces quantity of government? (4-5 key points with examples)
 How it improves quality of Governance? (4-5 key points with suitable 2-3 examples)
Model Answer:

E-governance is the application of ICT to the processes of government functioning for good
governance. E-governance goes beyond the service delivery aspects and is seen as a decisional
process. It is about the use of ICTs in the system of governance i.e. using ICT to involve multi-
stockholders in decision making and in making governments more open & accountable.
Examples: Bhoomi Project (Karnataka); Gyandoot (MP); e- Seva (Andhra Pradesh); e-Mitra
(Rajasthan); MCA 21 and Khajane project in Karnataka etc.
HOW IT REDUCES QUANTITY OF GOVERNMENT?
 Downsizing and right sizing of manpower: By moving from a heavily paper based system to
an electronic system reduces the need for man power thus, allowing the process to be
handled by less employees and therefore to reduce operations cost.
 E-Government allows to redeploy resources from back-end processing to the front line of
customer service.
 Delivery of government services online will reduce workload at government offices.
 Simplification of Governance Processes: Through the use of ICT to governance combined
with comprehensive business process reengineering would lead to simplification of
complicated processes, simplification in structures and changes in statutes and regulations.
It indeed involves almost elimination of existing dysfunctional system of governance.
 Demolition of discretion & arbitrariness in governance which will further reduce
administrative delays and quantity of government. Computers make coordination better &
cheaper. It will facilitate Decentralized administration i.e. delegation of authority.
HOW IT IMPROVES QUALITY OF GOVERNANCE?
1. Speed – Technology makes communication speedier. Internet, Phones, Cell Phones have reduced
the time taken in normal communication. Ex. SmartGov (Andhra Pradesh).
2. Cost Reduction – Most of the Government expenditure is appropriated towards the cost of
stationary. Paper-based communication needs lots of stationary, printers, computers, etc. which
calls for continuous heavy expenditure. Internet and Phones makes communication cheaper saving
valuable money for the Government.
3. Transparency –ICT helps make the information available online eliminating all the possibilities of
concealing of information. Ex. Online RTI system or Websites of all government departments today.
4. Accountability – Once the governing process is made transparent the Government is

automatically made accountable.
5. Expanded reach of governance: Rapid growth of communications technology and its adoption in
governance would help in bringing government machinery to the doorsteps of the citizens. Ex. m-
Kisan initiative.
6. Increased Participation of Citizens in governance: Enhancement of the reach of government –

both spatial and demographic –also enable better participation of citizens in the process of
governance. Ex. mygov.in portal.
7. Convenience: E-Government brings public services to citizens on their schedule and their venue.
8. Better and quick grievance redressal of citizens as well as public personnel: Ex. CM Window
system in Haryana.

9. Increased access to information: E-Government improves the accessibility of government
information to citizens allowing it become an important resource in the making the decisions that
affect daily life and so it helps in empowerment of citizens.
10. Other impacts:
 Vigilance and Monitoring is modernized.

 Public service will be performance based.
 Legal reform is better possible.
 Effective Disaster management.
 Reduced Corruption etc.
Thus, E-governance can be the instrument for transforming the nature & style of India’s Public
Administration into a less quantitative, more qualitative and more participative one. This in turn will
help achieving the pious goal of good governance in the state.
Q.11 Evaluate the role played by SHGs (Self Help Groups) in poverty alleviation and women
empowerment. What challenges do you see in their functioning? (15 marks, 250 words)
Approach:
 Introduce with the concept of SHG.

 Discus role of SHG in poverty alleviation and women empowerment. (Try to mention any
example or case study.)
 Highlight few challenges of SHG.
 Conclude with few suggestive measures.
Model Answer:
Self Help Groups are groups of 10-20 people in a locality formed for any social or economic purpose.
Most of the SHGs are formed for the purpose of better financial security among its members. They
help to build social capital among the poor, especially women.
ROLE OF SHG IN POVERTY ALLEVIATION:
 It encourages and motivate its members to save.

 In SHG members are persuaded to make collective plan for generation of additional income.
 It works as a “collective guarantee” system for members who prose to borrow from
organized sources. Now commercial banks and other financial institutions considering such
groups as their potential customer.
 The financial inclusion attained through SHG’s has led to reduced child mortality, improved
maternal health and the ability of the poor to combat disease through better nutrition,
housing and health-especially among women and children.
ROLE OF SHG IN WOMEN EMPOWERMENT:
 The majority of SHG’s comprise of women members. There is evidence everywhere that
formation of SHG’s has a multiplier effect in improving women’s status in society as well as
in family.
 Their active involvement in micro-finance and related entrepreneurial activities not only
leads to improvement in their socio-economic condition but also enhances their self-esteem.
 Women in a group environment become more articulate in voicing their concerns and
change occurs in their self-perception.
 On the home front, their new front found awareness and the confidence generated out of
their entrepreneurial skills make them more confident vis-à-vis their menfolk.
CHALLENGES & SHORTCOMINGS:
 Capacity building: Self Help Groups face challenges in terms of capacity building such as the
need of support in accounting, financial management, and organizational development.
 Irregular meetings: SHGs should meet regularly once in a week/fortnight/month as per the
rules decided by the members. But in reality, monthly meetings are not taking place as per
the rules of the SHG. This results in lack of interest in running their SHGs.
 Lack of transportation facilities: Dearth of transport facilities in rural areas makes it difficult
for women to travel long distance to reach banks. This is particularly difficult for aged and
child rearing women.
 Limited options for income generating activities: They do not have other options to start any
non-traditional activity in which value addition may be done. Traditional activities do not
always accrue profit in some cases SHGs have complained they do not get sufficient profit to
sustain their activities.
WAY FORWARD:
 A national policy needs to be created recognizing SHGs as institutions of the poor.

 A suitable legal form is required for the SHG federations.
 Banks must be made to look at the SHG bank linkage as a business opportunity and not just
as a social obligation.
 Continuous training and capacity building including financial literacy needs to be provided to
the SHGs.
 A system of internal audit needs to be put in place to make sure that SHGs audit their
accounts at least once in a year.
Q.12 What characteristics of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) make them more suitable
for undertaking developmental and welfare activities, in contrast to government agencies?
Discuss. Also highlight the emerging concerns with respect to NGOs in India. (15 marks, 250 words)
Approach:
 Introduce with definition of NGO.

 Enumerate characteristics than make them more suitable for developmental activities.
 Highlight emerging concerns of NGO’s.
 Mention few suggestive measures.
Model answer:
A NGO is an organization consisting of private individuals who believe in certain basic social
principles/ obligations and who structure their activities to bring about development to communities
that they are servicing. “NGOs include groups and institutions that are entirely or largely
independent of Government and that have primarily humanitarian rather than commercial
objectives.”
CHARACTERISTICS THAT MAKE THEM MORE SUITABLE FOR DEVELOPMENTAL ACTIVITIES:
 Proximity to grass root levels: NGOs are close to community and can understand people’s
needs and expectations. This is the major strength of NGOs. There is clarity about the nature
and extent of problem or need prevailing in the community.
 Enthusiasm and inner drive of the members: NGO people have an inner drive towards social
cause and they are enthusiastic about their work which results in timely achievement of
their goals.
 Creativity and innovation: NGOs are generally known for their creative and innovative
nature. Due to their freedom in working, NGOs are not under any kind of pressure of doing a
job in a particular way, which in turn make them think creatively and brings innovation.
 Quality of work: NGOs utilize the funds economically as already most of the NGOs face
shortage of funds. NGOs projects or activities are met in time and have long term effect.
 Speed of work: The communication is faster in case of NGOs since they do not contain long
chain of commands in the organization. Fast communication, flexibility, field experience and
field presence of NGOs increase the working speed.
 More flexibility in working in comparison to ruled bound bureaucracy.
EMERGING CONCERNS:
 The recent report of Intelligence bureau (IB) stated that-the working of few NGOs in the
name of protests against the government activities have become detrimental to the nation
development. It also mentioned that the protests of ‘foreign funding NGOs’ led to loss of 2-
3% of country’s GDP. Mere protests and stalling development activities would not prove
effective and hurt the nation building.
 GOI in the recent past has banned many NGOs-both domestic and Indian arm of foreign
NGOs on the pretext of violation of FCRA. Licenses of about 14,000 of NGOs being cancelled
because of alleged violations. But in a country like India where income source is low and
high difficulties associated in raising funds which are primary for NGOs to fulfill their
minimum requirements it is definitely not acceptable to stop the foreign funds.
 The Home Ministry has asked the Finance Ministry to surrender its powers to monitor non-
governmental organizations (NGOs) under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA).
This move is aimed at bringing all NGOs which receive foreign contributions under one
umbrella for better monitoring and regulation. It will help in better regulation of such funds.
 Currently, few international donors are registered under FEMA but not the Foreign
Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA), 2010. Many NGOs and foreign donors do not want to
register under the FCRA due to its stringent provisions.
WAY FORWARD:
 The implementation of a strategic framework is essentially important in the management of

an NGO. The endorsement of such a framework brings in professionalism and internal
control mechanisms, which further makes the organization’s performance more effective.
 It is necessary for government to ensure further transparency in categorizing the NGOs
based on their funds sources. And also it is necessary that NGOs to ensure transparency in
their governance frame work and board functioning. Example, bringing NGO’s under RTI.

In nutshell, the NGOs working with enhanced accountability, by providing alternative solutions to
the development, in collaboration with the government and market which is the need of the hour
would further strengthen the development process in India.
Q.13 "Before poverty can be eliminated, it needs to be measured properly." In this context discuss
the need and challenges in the measurement of poverty. What initiatives have been taken in this
regard in post-independent India? Discuss. (15 marks, 250 words)
Approach:
 Introduce with definition of poverty.

 Enumerate need and challenges of the defining poverty line.
 Discuss various initiatives in this regard since post-independence. (Mention the key ideas of
various experts)
 Conclude with suggestive tone.
Model Answer:
Poverty refers to a situation when people are deprived of basic necessities of life. It is often
characterized by inadequacy of food, shelter and clothes.
Need of defining Poverty line:
 It is easy to ignore the poor if they are statistically invisible. The measurement of poverty is
thus necessary if it is to appear on the political and economic agenda.
 Poverty line helps in deciding the beneficiaries for government programs.
 For better targeting of welfare measures and enhance the efficiency of poverty alleviation.
 To monitor and evaluate projects and policy interventions geared towards the poor.
 To evaluate the effectiveness of institutions whose goal is to help the poor.
CHALLENGES:
 Lack of consensus on nature of Poverty and its estimating yardsticks.

 Not only politically sensitive but also has deeper fiscal ramifications: If the poverty threshold
is high, it may leave out many needed people; while if it is low, then it would be bad for
fiscal health of the government.
 There is a lack of consensus among states too. Some states such as Odisha and West Bengal
supported the Tendulkar Poverty Line while others such as Delhi, Jharkhand, and Mizoram
etc. supported Rangrajan Line.
 Huge size of population and resource constraints prevents government from replicating
global practices like considering a certain percentile of population (say lowest 30% or 40%)
as poor always.
Poverty Estimation in independent India:
1. First Planning Commission working group (1962)
 The concept of the poverty line was first introduced by a working group of the Planning
Commission in 1962 and subsequently expanded in 1979 by a task force.
 The 1962 working group recommended that the national minimum for each household of
five persons should be not less than Rs 100 per month for rural and Rs. 125 for urban at
1960-61 prices.
 These estimates excluded the expenditure on health and education, which both were
expected to be provided by the state.
2. Y K Alagh Committee (1979) till 1979, approach to estimate poverty was traditional i.e. lack of
income. It was later decided to measure poverty precisely as starvation i.e. in terms of how much
people eat.
 This approach was first of all adopted by the YK Alagh Committee’s recommendation in 1979
whereby, the people consuming less than 2100 calories in the urban areas or less than 2400
calories in the rural areas are poor.
 Moreover, an implicit assumption was that the states would take care of the health and
education of the people. Thus, YK Alagh eventually defined the first poverty line in India.
3. Lakdawala Committee (1993):
 Lakdawala committee included clothing and shelter needs along with calorie requirements.
 This committee defined poverty line on the basis of household per capita consumption
expenditure.
 The fallout of the Lakdawala formula was that number of people below the poverty line got
almost double. The number of people below the poverty line was 16 per cent of the
population in 1993-94. Under the Lakdawala calculation, it became 36.3 per cent.
 Till as recently as 2011, the official poverty lines were based entirely on the
recommendations of the Lakdawala Committee of 1993.
4. Suresh Tendulkar Committee (2005):
 In 2011, the Suresh Tendulkar Committee defined the poverty line on the basis of monthly
spending on food, education, health, electricity and transport.
 According to this estimate, a person who spends Rs. 27.2 in rural areas and Rs. 33.3 in urban
areas a day are defined as living below the poverty line. For a family of five that spends less
than Rs. 4,080 and Rs. 5,000 in rural and urban areas respectively is considered below the
poverty line.
 This has been criticized for fixing the poverty line too low.
5. C. Rangarajan Committee (2012)
 Committee proposed a methodology that has three main components -food, non-food
essential items and miscellaneous behaviorally determined items. Calorie expenditure
included proteins, calories and fats.
 It extended the calculations to include clothing, transport and rent.
 Instead of a per capita, Rangarajan calculated the poverty line for a family unit of five.
 For data, this committee used consumption data rather than relying on price indices.
 Rangarajan committee raised the limits to Rs. 32 and Rs. 47, respectively, and worked out
poverty line at close to 30%. With estimates of Rangarajan committee, Poverty stood at
around 30% in 2011-12. The number of poor in India was estimated at 36.3 crore in 2011-12.
6. SECC, 2011

 Unlike previous methods of poverty estimation, SECC recognizes many dimensions of
poverty like health, education, sanitation, mid-day meal can be universal; others like
affordable housing, disability can be targeted.
 SECC approach defines poverty through deprivation, instead of consumption.
 However, SECC 2011 data was criticized by few experts as it was not reliable. The
methodology is not full proof and there are many errors and omissions in the draft data.
7. Current Status: Arvind Panagariya Task Force
 To define the poverty line again, The NDA Government had constituted a 14-member task
force under NITI Aayog’s vice-chairman Arvind Panagariya to come out with
recommendations for a realistic poverty line.
 After one and half years work, this task force also failed to reach a consensus on poverty
line. In September 2016, it suggested to the government that another panel of specialists
should be asked to do this job.
 Informally, this committee supported the poverty line as suggested by Tendulkar
Committee.
Thus, poverty estimation task is very critical to eradicate the poverty. Hence, while estimating
poverty line government should try to ensure that this exercise is comprehensive, efficient and
covers wider section of the society. Proper care should be taken to ensure that data is reliable and
valid. Also, while estimating, poverty line there should be consensus among states as well.
Q.14 Despite its enormous potential, social audit has been non-effective in reducing malpractices
and detecting irregularities. Examine the reasons behind it. Suggest suitable measures to make it
more effective. 15 marks, 250 words
Approach:
 Write a brief introduction about social audits and its key objectives.
 Discuss its potential benefits.
 Focus on the role of community participation and compare it with traditional approach to
audit.
 Examine the reasons for loopholes in effective implementation of social audit mechanism.
 Highlight few suggestive measures.
Model Answer:
Social auditing is a process by which an organization / government accounts for its social
performance to its stakeholders and seeks to improve its future social performance. In government
context, it refers to the social control over withdrawal and usage of funds drawn from the state
exchequer for programs and policies aimed at the benefit of people. It allows people to enforce
transparency and accountability, thereby providing the ultimate users an opportunity to scrutinize
the development initiatives.
A social audit helps to narrow gaps between vision/goal and reality; and between efficiency and
effectiveness. It allows us to measure, verify, report on and to improve the social performance of
any government effort or organization.
OBJECTIVES OF SOCIAL AUDIT:

1. Accurate identification of requirements.
2. Prioritization of developmental activities as per requirements.
3. Proper utilization of funds.
4. Conformity of the developmental activity with the stated goals.
5. Quality of service.
POTENTIAL AND ACTUAL BENEFITS OF SOCIAL AUDIT:
 Social Audit facilitates transformation of citizens from a passive recipient to a demanding

client, thus making the Government answerable.
 It is an instrument of social accountability of an organisation.
 They can help raise awareness about entitlements.
 These Audits allow beneficiaries of different schemes to lodge complaints regarding
malpractices.
 Involvement of people in developmental activities ensures that money is spent where it is
actually needed.
 Unlike the traditional forms of audit, social audit is a continuous process.
 Helps in reduction of wastages & corruption.
 Promotes integrity and a sense of community partnership among people & improves the
standard of governance.
REASONS BEHIND NON-EFFECTIVENESS OF SOCIAL AUDITS:
 Lack of institutionalization of Social Audit: For ex. Very few states have actually instituted
social auditing mechanism despite mandatory provisions in acts like MGNREGA.
 Lack of expertise and experts’ guidance like CAG.
 Resistance by the administration and lack of political will also hampers the efficacy of this
mechanism.
 Lack of awareness on the part of the people about possible benefits of such tool reduces
potential impacts of it.
 Involvement of local representatives in malpractices: Vested interests has sometimes
resulted in resistance to social audits.
 Low Level of information shared with and lack of involvement of stakeholders, particularly of
the rural poor, women, and other marginalized sections.
 Lack of proper guidelines and yardsticks for effective and unhindered execution of such
audits.
 Lack of effective and speedy Grievance Redressal mechanisms.
 Lack of periodic review and follow-up as well as weak enforcement of punishments.
 Inadequate infrastructure in terms of manpower, technology etc. also further the problem.
 Relative lack of expertise and capacity among local bodies and social dynamics sometimes
make it naming and shaming exercise.
SUGGESTIONS

Ensure institutionalization of social audits across all states making it enforceable and
credible “contract” allocating responsibilities, defining timelines and ensuring prompt
penalty to the guilty.
 Creating organic linkages between CAG and Social Audit mechanisms.
 Capacity building to facilitate beneficiary-led-audits keeping in mind local circumstances and
empowering local participation.
 Adequate institutional support and adequate budgetary provisions to ensure the viability of
Social Audits.
 Promoting concept of Social Audit Committees.
 Promoting awareness about Social Audit and its potential benefits: For ex. Organization of a
mass campaign to increase public awareness about the meaning, scope, purpose and
objectives of social audit.
 Proper and detailed guidelines and yardsticks to be provided to citizens as well as officials by
government in this regard.
 Establishment of a team of social audit experts in each district who are responsible for
training social audit committee members (stakeholders).
 Implementation of training programmes on social auditing methods conducting and
preparing social audit reports, and presentation at Gram Sabha etc.
Social Audit is a good potential tool for ushering in good governance as well as citizen-centric
governance. The need of the hour is to implement desirable reforms to ensure that all the potential
benefits of it get realized effectively and timely.
Q.15 With the rapid socio-economic changes and urbanization in recent years, the valuable
cultures and traditions of the minorities in India are under severe threat and in some cases face
extinction. In light of the above statement discuss the steps taken by government of India to
reverse the above mentioned trend. (15 Marks, 250 Words)
Approach:
 Discuss the rapid socio-economic changes and urbanization in recent years.

 Discuss its impact on culture and traditions of minorities.
 Mention the government steps to reverse this trend.
 Conclude with futuristic insight.
Modern Answer:
India is home to thousands of distinct and unique cultures, formed by mixing of multiple religious
and linguistic minorities. The minority religious communities in India include religious Muslims,
Sikhs, Christians, Buddhists, Zoroastrians (Parsis) and Jains. Today Minorities who were known for
metal works, elegant textile such as Banarasi, kantha (West Bengal), Kashida (J&K) are leaving these
art forms, Parsi population has reduced to half.
The various reasons are manifold:
Social factors: With increasing impact of globalization preferences and demand is changing. With
increase poverty levels, illiteracy traditional artisans either migrated to some new regions or shifted
to some other occupation.
Economic factors: Increased competition with the cheap machine made products and scarce and
rising cost of basic resources caused decline of traditional art and artifacts.

Urbanization: It not only led to migration of traditional artisans to nearby areas and art forms could
not be passed on to successive generations. Also, homogenization is impacting individual fine arts,
music, festivals.
The changed lifestyle is giving way to migration, homogenization, blind race behind western
traditions and neglect of indigenous culture, stressful life, time and resource scarcity,
intergenerational gaps which makes people to lose sight of their prized heritage.
Government Initiatives: Government of India has adopted a comprehensive approach to preserve

minority heritage and culture. Various components of the strategy includes:
● Educational empowerment: Ministry of minority affairs provides pre-matric, postmatric and merit
cum means scholarships to students of poor families. “Maulana Azad National Fellowship” for higher
studies and interest subsidy scheme like “Padho Pardesh”. The educated minority youth are well
placed to recognize the significance of historic resources, to preserve them for future generations,
and to integrate them into everyday life through redevelopment, community efforts in conservation.
● Livelihood security: Ministry’s “Nai Roshni” scheme is empowering women by providing

knowledge, tools, technique, while scheme “Nai Manzil” is bridging the skill gaps in madrasa
students. “Seekho Aur Kamao (Learn and Earn)” scheme imparts minority youth with skill with 75%
assured placement guarantee. National Minorities Development & Finance Corporation (NMDFC)
fulfills microfinance needs of entrepreneurs. An empowered artisan can prudently manage
inventory, access government schemes, can gather market trends, can tailor the product design as
consumer need.
● JIYO PARSI: Parsi population has seen 50% decline since independence; reasons are low fertility,
migration, a large number of Parsis who remain unmarried, late marriages etc. It is threatening their
2000 year old cultural practices such as Navjote, Zoroastrian weddings, funeral, their temples,
dakhma (Tower of silence) etc. Government through this scheme has made unique structural
intervention to stabilize Parsi population. It provides for counseling, medical assistance which will
indirectly help to preserve the rich heritage.
● USTAAD: Upgrading the Skills and Training in Traditional Arts/Crafts for Development scheme, is
direct intervention to preserve rich heritage of traditional arts/crafts of minorities and build capacity
of traditional artisans/craftsmen through recognition, preserving talent, exhibitions, stipend and
awards. With such a unique provisions this scheme is preserving traditional textile, wood, carpet,
handicraft, embroidery art forms of minority society.
● Hamari Dharohar Scheme: To Preserve rich heritage of minorities, Literature/ documents,

Calligraphy etc. under overall concept of Indian Culture through documentation of oral traditions, art
forms, exhibitions and fellowships. It works in partnership with National museum, National gallery of
modern arts, ASI, UNESCO, world monument foundation. Three iconic exhibitions of Parsi culture
have been arrange and a project for translation of 240 invaluable documents belonging to Medieval
period on the subjects of Medicines, Mathematics, Literature, etc. from the Arabic language to
English, digitization, and re-printing has been announced.
● Waqf Management: Government provides interest free loans for construction and reconstruction
of financially viable assets such as hospitals, marriage halls, cold storage on waqf lands.

● Prime Minister’s New 15 Point Programme for the Welfare of Minorities: Is an overarching
programme which covers various schemes under concern ministries by earmarking 15% of physical
targets/financial outlay for minorities.
Government’s efforts are incomplete without citizen’s participation. Cultural heritage teaches us
about tolerance and respect for a diverse humanity. It reminds us of our better nature and like the
standing bodhisattva, helps us all live in a more humane world. Therefore, minority or no minority,
its civic duty of every citizen to protect our heritage.
Q.16 Why are the people with disabilities are referred to as ‘invisible minority’ in India? How do
The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016 seek to protect the differentially abled from
discrimination and address the problems faced by them? (15 Marks, 250 words)
Approach:
 Why disabled are called invisible minority?

 Provision of The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016.
 Analysis of the provisions on the Act.
Model Answer:
People with disabilities are arguably the largest ‘invisible minority’ on the planet:
• WHO figures say that 15.3% of the world’s population lives with some kind of disability. But
India’s 2011 census says that only 2.21% of the population have disabilities.
• This is a huge section of our population. And yet, we hardly see them in the mainstream. But this
doesn’t mean that these millions are not there, among us. It is just that we as a country have
neglected to include them in the mainstream.
• The extent to which disability was neglected in the policy realm can be gauged by the fact that for
as long as the 10th Plan, there was almost no mention of disability whatsoever. During the
formulation of the 11th Plan, DRG (Disabled Rights Group) led a huge campaign for the substantial
inclusion of disability and for recognizing the fact that it is a cross-cutting human rights issue.
The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016:
• In December 2016, parliament passed the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Bill, 2016. The bill
repeals Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunity Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act
of 1995.
• The bill comprehensively covers a whole spectrum of problems from physical disabilities to mental
illness and multiple disabilities under it. It complies with the UN Convention on Rights of Persons
with Disabilities, to which India became a signatory in 2007.
Salient features of the act:
• Definition of disability: It has defined based on an evolving and dynamic concept to include 21
conditions as disable. Expands the list of disabilities from seven to 21.
• It also defines Persons with benchmark disabilities as those with at least 40% of any of the above
specified disabilities.
• Speech and Language Disability and Specific Learning Disability have been added for the first time.
Acid Attack Victims have been included.
• Rights of persons with disabilities: Persons with disabilities (PwDs) shall have the right to equality.
They shall not be discriminated against on grounds of their disability.
• Rights include protection from inhuman treatment and equal protection and safety in situations of
risk, humanitarian emergencies, natural disasters and armed conflict.
• All existing public buildings shall be made accessible to disabled persons.
• Education and skill development: It provide for the access to inclusive education, self-employment
and vocational training for disabled persons.
• At least 5% seats in all government institutions of higher education and those getting aid from the
government are required to reserve seats for persons with benchmark disabilities. Earlier it was only
3%.
• Employment: The Union and State governments will ensure that at least 4% of the vacancies in
identified establishments are filled by persons or class of persons with at least 40% of any of the
disabilities.
• The reservation must be computed on the basis of total number of the vacancies in the strength of
a cadre. The Government can exempt any establishment from this provision of reservation.
• Legal Capacity: Disabled persons have the equal right to own and inherit movable and immovable
property, as well as control their financial affairs on par with others.
• Guardianship: The district court may order guardianship to the disable person if found a mentally
ill person and not capable of taking care of himself or of taking legally binding decisions.
Analysis of the act:
Positives:
 By enacting the Disability Law, the Indian Government has succeeded in promoting equal
employment opportunity for the disabled.
 The Disability Law aims at addressing the problems faced by the disabled from all
dimensions. It includes not just the economic and social rights of the disabled, but also
includes justiciable rights of the disabled.
 Social attitudes and stigma have been a major reason for limiting the opportunities of the
disabled whether it be in their social and economic life or even within their own families.
Despite the magnitude of the issue, awareness on disability issues have been lacking. To that
extent, the government’s initiative to conduct, encourage, support and promote awareness
campaigns and sensitization programmes is a remarkable step.
 The Disability Law is a sign that the government is making a move towards a more inclusive
and progressive society, where persons would not be limited by their disabilities. This would
ensure that employment standards in India are brought in line with international standards.
Limitations:
 It strangely makes the clauses on non-discrimination in employment mandatory only in

government establishments.

 The bill does not specify the time frame for a certificate of disability to be issued
 PWD Act does define public buildings and public facilities and services towards making such
infrastructure accessible to PWDs in a “barrier-free” manner. However, for all the benefits
that this bill strives to provide, basic issues of accessibility, including to information and
communication technology, and certification of disability remain a distant unfulfilled dream
in the absence of any political will.
It is time to leverage this vast human capital. It is hoped that the proposed new law, a robust rights-
based legislation with a strong institutional mechanism, shall ensure the enjoyment of rights by
persons with disabilities on an equal basis with the non-disabled citizens of India. The disability
sector has been waiting for this law patiently for the last several years. The new law would be a
game changer if the above mentioned concerns are addressed.
Q.17 Social sanctions and economic incentives are better enforcers of good conduct than legal
frameworks as far as fighting corruption is concerned. Critically Examine. (15 marks, 250 words)
Approach:
 Briefly about the status of corruption in India.

 Legal framework in India and its failure to enforce good conduct.
 How social sanction and economic incentives are better enforcer of good conduct?
 Challenges of social sanction and economic incentive as a full proof method to fight
corruption.
 In conclusion write about the Legal framework along with social sanction and economic
incentive are needed to fight corruption.
Model Answer:
According to World Bank Group report, business and individual pay bribe around 2 % of global GDP.
India’s ranking in the annual corruption index, released by Berlin-based non-government
organisation Transparency International (TI), slid to 81 among a group of 180 countries. The
Corruption Perception Index 2017 also singled out India as one of the “worst offenders” in the Asia-
Pacific region.
LEGAL FRAMEWORK AVAILABLE IN INDIA
1. Institutions like CVC, CBI, CIC to enhance accountability, credible deterrence and promote
transparency.
2. Legislations like Right to Information Act, 2005, Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 and
Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 etc., with a focus on increasing transparency and
accountability and creating environment of vigilance.
3. Others: Model code of conduct, Civil service conduct rules, etc.
WHY LEGAL FRAMEWORK FAILED IN ENFORCING GOOD CONDUCT?
1. Lack of enforcement capacity and regulatory complexity—are deep causes or foundational

characteristics of India’s institutions.

2. Inadequate regulation of political finance and shortcomings in public sector recruitment and
postings—are more proximate offshoots of India’s institutional infirmities.
3. Corruption is not defined in any law.
4. Failure to tackle collusive corruption: Corruption is the result of unholy alliance between Netas
(Politicians), Babus (Bureaucrats), Dadas (People with muscle power), and Lalas (Businessmen).
While the anti-corruption measures focus only on bureaucrats and to certain extent politicians, the
other two actors are largely untouched.
ADVANTAGES OF SOCIAL SANCTIONS AND ECONOMIC INCENTIVES
A. SOCIAL SANCTIONS: It can be termed as any means by which conformity to socially approved
standards are maintained. Example: Punishment, ostracism, campaigns, movements, etc
1. Social sanctions help in restoring moral values and creating an ethical society. Example: Awards
and other formal acknowledgements can influence individual to conform to the established or
desired norms.
2. It creates resilience and awareness among public, civil society, etc. against corrupt practices.
Example: Anti-corruption movement, 2011.
3. It creates more deterrence and ensure effective public service delivery, curbing malpractice in
awarding of government contracts. Example: Role of Reputation/Labels can create positive culture
where people are known for or identify with a positive behavior. Such identification can help not
only in encouraging desired behavior, but can also create and perpetuate undesirable behaviors.
4. An effective system of social sanction helps in promoting free market and allows firms to
experience a lower cost of doing business.
B. ECONOMIC INCENTIVES: It provides people the motivation to pursue their preference. Example:
Tax, reward, bonus etc.
1. Reforms focusing on improving financial management and strengthening the role of auditing
agencies have achieved greater impact than public sector reforms on curbing corruption. Example:
The disclosure of financial information prevents waste and misappropriation of resources.
2. Incentives to public servants in the form of pay hike also helps in reducing demand side in
coercive corruption. Example: Seventh pay commission would allow the government to pay, recruit,
and retain higher quality government officials and begin to root out corruption and poor quality in
public services, once and for all.
3. Facilitative corruption which form part of regular interaction with the state machinery such as
officials demanding bribes to perform or expedite the basic functions of their job, like issuing
passports or ration cards can be curbed by giving perks, bonuses, or promotion to public servant by
increasing the responsiveness of government official and will have a positive effect on their morale.
CHALLENGES OF SOCIAL SANCTIONS AND ECONOMIC INCENTIVES:
A. SOCIAL SANCTIONS

1. Social sanctions need social cohesion, and in events of rising intolerance, hate crimes, etc. this
seems difficult to implicate.
2. It can be used in frivolous manner to target any person/institution, Example: fake news on social
media.
B. ECONOMIC INCENTIVES
1. Despite enforcing good conduct, incentives focuses more on countering extractive and facilitative
corruption, and less on collusive corruption. Example: Bihar uterus scam with nexus of private
hospitals, government officials and insurance companies.
2. It only yields temporary compliance and do not create enduring commitment.
WAY AHEAD
Fighting corruption is a multidimensional task which require combination of ethical, legal,

institutional and social frameworks beside administrative improvement. Some of important
suggestions must be included:
1. 2nd ARC recommendation of creating code of ethics and decriminalization of politics.
2. Deploying of smart technology like Big Data, which helps in curbing petty corruption.
3. With a balanced approach to both supply and demand aspect of corruption. To fight corruption,
we need combinations of strong social, economic and legal mechanism.
Q.18 Swatch Bharat Mission (SBM) was able to achieve what previous sanitation drives could not.
What are the reasons for its success? Do you think SBM needs a broader vision of what constitutes
cleanliness to accomplish the vision of a clean India by 2019? (15 marks, 250 words)
Approach:
 Briefly introduce about SBM and its objective.

 Give reason why previous sanitation drive failed.
 Discuss reason for success of SBM.
 Write broader vision needed to achieve vision by 2019
Model Answer:
Swachh Bharat Abhiyan is a campaign which was launched on 2 October 2014, and aims to eradicate
open defecation by 2019. Its predecessors were the “Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan” and before that the
“Total Sanitation Campaign”.
OBJECTIVES OF SWACHH BHARAT ABHIYAN
a) To end the practice of open defecation.
b) To convert the insanitary toilets into pour flush toilets.
c) To end the practice of manual scavenging.
d) To change behavior change among the people and increase awareness towards cleanliness.

WHY PREVIOUS SANITATION DRIVES COULD NOT ACHIEVE ITS GOAL?
Despite the significantly adverse health and economic impacts and the obvious indignity suffered by
people, especially women, by having to defecate in the open, no previous Prime Minister invested
his or her political capital in a subject not usually talked about in polite society. According to CAG’s
report Total Sanitation Campaign, later renamed Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan was failed to achieve its
targets.
The followings were the reasons:
1. The earlier missions have solely focused on building infrastructure like toilets etc. without realizing
that they are not utilized due to attitude and behavioral issues. The SBM along with creating desired
infrastructure also focuses on changing habits and behavior towards promoting the usage of that
infrastructure by the people.
2. The previous campaigns focused on outputs (number of toilets built). Also, the verification of ODF
status in a time bound and comprehensive manner is unique. The verification is done at District and
State level and separately by the MDWS at national level. All these claims are cross verified by an
independent third party like QCI (Quality Council of India)
3. Previous drives were being seen as the responsibility of one particular Ministry or department
alone.
4. Lack of use of technology to realise the targets of sanitation and cleanliness. Example: Initiatives
like Swachhathon — the Swachh Bharat Hackathon which invites innovative technology based
solutions to some of the most challenging questions being faced by SBM were not encouraged in
previous drives.
HOW SWACHH BHARAT MISSION ACHIEVED SUCCESS?
1. Political Push: The most important success factor for the SBM was the fact that sanitation was
brought into the national consciousness by none other than the Prime Minister of India. He gave the
nation a time-bound goal to work towards achieving a clean and open defecation free India by
October 2, 2019. This injected a sense of urgency in the entire administrative system at the Centre,
state and district levels and made them prioritise a much-neglected problem.
2. Public finance: The finance ministry provided the funds for this ambitious programme with a tight
timeline. India has the world’s largest government rural sanitation budget, in excess of USD 20
billion. The SBM also provides significant financial incentive to socially and economically weaker
sections to construct and use toilets, at Rs 12,000 per eligible household.
3. Partnerships: SBM has built several strategic partnerships to mainstream sanitation in all sectors.
All ministries of the Government of India are working tirelessly to improve sanitation in their
respective spheres of influence like schools, hospitals, anganwadis, highways, markets, and railways.
Various national and international development agencies and corporates have supported the
mission. These strategic partnerships have helped the mission spread its learning’s and best
practices on behavior-change rapidly, as well as improve implementation across the country.
4. People’s participation: SBM has scaled up sanitation by involving all sections of society from
filmstars to sportspersons to religious leaders to the common man. The ‘Swachhata Hi Seva’
campaign kicked off by the PM is a good example of an estimated 150 to 200 million people joining
the Jan andolan. Today, almost every village has swachhagrahis and millions of volunteers work for
swachhata with no official titles. SBM is a classic example of the power of the collective and the
extraordinary results that can be achieved when people come together for a common cause.
SUCCESS OF SBM:
a) It has helped 24 states to achieve the open defecation free status.
b) In India Sanitation coverage has increased from then 39% to 93%
c) The number of toilet built is 8.6 crore.
WHAT MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE TO ACHIEVE CLEAN INDIA BY 2019?
SBM needs a broader vision of what constitutes cleanliness to accomplish the vision of a clean India
by 2019 by addressing the following challenges:
1. Manual scavenging: The recent news of death of 300 labours while opening jammed manholes
shows that the one of the major target of ending manual scavenging is still unachieved
2. Increase in the number of insanitary toilets which has reached to 2.6 million due to main focus on
toilet construction only rather then it type.
3. In cities solid waste is not properly managed and recycled.
4. Parliamentary committee has pointed out that it nearly 15 k crore of fund allotted remain unspent
5. Inflated data even for non-functional toilets are counted
6. Various issues are still unresolved like water availability.
WAY FORWARD:
1. Improve the quality of the toilet and ensure the regular supply of water.
2. Increasing usage of technology for cleaning the sewage and reduce the manual scavenging.
3. Ensure proper solid waste collection and management.
We should ensure that the programme is implemented in right manner which will also help India to
achieve its sustainable development goal 6. The ongoing mass mobilization campaign ‘Swachhata Hi
Seva’ highlights sanitation as the real service to the nation. We owe a ‘Swachh Bharat’ to the
Mahatma on the occasion of his 150th birth anniversary in 2019.
Q.19 Globalization has led to an increased level of interconnectedness among the people of the
world and affected their lives, work and families. Critically examine the impact of globalization on
vulnerable groups. (15 marks, 250 words)
Approach:
● Give a brief introduction about globalization.
● Mention various vulnerable groups.
● Discuss how globalization has impacted each group – Both positive and negative impacts.
● Conclude the answer with a positive note.

Model Answer:
Globalization means integration of national economy with the economy of the world. It includes
increasing interconnectedness of people through the growth of international flow of money, ideas
and culture which affects their lives, work and families. Its impacts have been particularly severe on
the vulnerable groups like women, children, tribals, elderly etc.
Impact of globalization on tribal:
Positive impacts:
● Urban and educated tribal may benefit from the increased opportunities for work that come with
the influx of foreign companies and investments.
● Greater opportunities to receive education and skills training of a higher quality.
● Digital and economic inclusion.
● This may help to bring them in mainstream.
Negative impact:
● Displacement of Tribal owing to mining, construction and other related activities.
● Despite intense industrial activity in the tribal belt, the tribal employment in modern enterprises is
negligible. The tribals are forced to live in juxtaposition with alien capitalist relations and cultures,
with traumatic results.
● They are forced onto the low paid, insecure and transient labour market.
● Pattern and method of ownership of resources have changed.
● Family structure is also changed.
Impact of globalization on differently abled:
Positive impact:
● Integration on the economic scale for the funds of societies and NGOs working for the disabled.
Through funds there can better research and development for their betterment.
● Enables replication of best practices regarding capacity building and engagement in economic
activities.
● Better infrastructure in form of library and schools can have better support through funds and
facilities ex. Marrakesh Treaty.
● Increased awareness among people and among disabled about their rights.
● Increased mobility.
Negative impact:
● The competition through globalization has led to slow growth and near neglect of the disabled.
● It reduced the role of state further in provision of public services like education, health etc.
● Loss of jobs due to ICT in telecom sector, major provider of employment for disabled.
Impact of globalization on elderly:
Positive impact:
● Healthcare has become more efficient. Average life expectancy and health has increased because
of improvement in technology, medical facilities, and living standards.
● Easier and quicker money transfer options.
Negative impact:
● More and more nuclear families have resulted in isolation, rejection and loneliness of aged
persons leading to psychological distress; and the crimes against older people.
Impact of globalization on children:
Positive Impact:
● Provides new avenues for learning and recreation.
● Increased awareness due to ease of access to internet and related technologies.
● Student exchange programs providing diverse exposure.
Negative Impact:
● Children have become used to taking unhealthy junk food over the healthy homemade food.
Impact of globalization on women:
Positive Impact:
● Provided increased job opportunities and education.
● Posed a challenge to patriarchy in India.
● Increased recognition of rights.
Negative Impact:
● Vulnerability to low paid part time and exploitative jobs.
● Migration of women for economic reasons has led to increased exploitation including sexual
exploitation and trafficking.
Therefore, it can be said that Globalization has come forward as a mixed bag. Government and
Society, in response, have to work in tandem to ensure that its ill effects are nullified while its
benefits are reaped.
Q.20 “The idea of lateral entry into the Civil Services would energize Indian administration.” What
are its possible advantages and limitations? (15 marks, 250 words)
Approach:
 Introduce with concept of lateral entry in Civil Services and its need in Indian administration.
 Enumerate its advantages and limitations.

 Highlight few suggestions as way forward.
Model Answer:
Traditionally to get into Civil Services like IAS, IPS etc. a candidate has to clear the UPSC Civil
Services Exam. One-third of the vacancies in Indian Civil Services is also filled by promotion of eligible
candidates working in different State Services.
Lateral entry into civil services – means bypassing these two options. The appointments are mainly
made to the post of Director, Joint Secretary and Deputy Secretary.
Recently Prime Minister’s Office issued instructed to the Department of Personnel and Training to
prepare a memorandum on induction of outsiders in the middle rung of ministries that deal with
economy and infrastructure.
ADVANTAGES:
 In addition to domain knowledge, they had managerial skills and could get results in a
government system.
 Outside talent from the private sector is more likely to be target-oriented, which will
improve the performance of the government. Also, more competition will encourage career
civil servants to develop expertise in areas of their choice.
 Lateral entrants may not only bring specialized expertise, good practices and work culture,
but they could also induce competition within the system.
 When civil servants are made to compete with outside talent, the lethargic attitude and
bureaucratic inertia will diminish. So the prospects of lateral entry will always propel overall
efficiency.
 It will also reverse some of the appropriation of top positions by the IAS lobby from non-IAS
services over the last few decades.
 A diversity of experiences and domain expertise together can ensure that policies have a
better connect with ground realities, and get implemented more efficiently.
LIMITATIONS:

Discretion on lateral entry may pave the way to charges of being “politically motivated”,
which may degrade the system (spoil system in USA).
 It is also not clear how lateral entrants would be more performance-oriented and less
process compliant than the civil service, considering that process compliance is the
prerequisite.
 The proposal for lateral entry at senior decision-making levels will increase the disconnect
between policymaking and implementation.
 Also, the best talent can be attracted only if there is reasonable assurance of reaching top
level managerial positions.
 Lateral entry only at top level policy making positions may have little impact on field level
implementation, given the multiple links in the chain of command from the Union
Government to a rural village.
 Lateral entrants have struggled to fit into “the system” and understand the processes and
dynamics of government decision-making. They have complained of hostility from the IAS
network which, they believe, sets them up for failure.
WAY FORWARD
 The Union Public Service Commission should design the examination to test analytical skills,
maturity of judgment and personality traits of mid-career professionals from diverse career
paths.
 Civil servants should also be encouraged to move out and work for different sectors on a
short-term basis to enrich their knowledge and enhance their motivation and efficiency.
Therefore, lateral exit is as important as lateral entry. This has the potential to raise the civil
services from its slump.
 For preventing lateral entry from politicization and ineffective again, the ARC recommended
the establishment of a central civil services authority to deal with issues concerning lateral
entries. But the body, which would have ensured a robust and accountable system of lateral
entry, is yet to come into existence.

Mains Test 7 (Sample Answers)

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MAINS MOCK TEST-7 2019(SAMPLE SOLUTIONS)

● Introduce with definition and statistics of child labour.

● Brief description of article 24.

● Loopholes in article 24.

● Provisions of Child Labour Act, 2016 as an improvement over article 24.

● Conclude with positive note or suggest solution.

statistics of child labour in India

Shortfalls of Article 24:

2. Does not discuss about children from 14-18 years of age.

3. Violations not dealt with.

4. Not in conformity with Article 21A- Right to Education.

5. Does not provide for rehabilitation of freed child labourers.

STATE FUNDING OF ELECTIONS:

HOW STATE FUNDING OF ELECTIONS HELP?

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ISSUES WITH STATE FUNDING OF ELECTIONS

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 Define the Constitutional mandate of CAG

ROLE OF CAG IN ENSURING PARLIAMENTARY ACCOUNTABILITY

5. He audits the receipts and expenditure of the following:

(b) Government companies; and

(c) Other corporations and bodies, when so required by related laws.

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LIMITATIONS OF CAG WITH RESPECT TO AUDIT OF PUBLIC AUTHORITIES:

Q.4 “Social sectoral development in India is mainly hampered by underutilization of budget

 Briefly highlight on state of social sector spending - substantiate with data.

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REMEDIAL MEASURES FOR THE PROBLEM OF UNDER- UTILIZATION

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2. District-level budget tracking exercises focusing on a number of schemes – for developing

 Briefly mention about systemic reforms

SYSTEMIC REFORMS CAN DEAL WITH CORRUPTION IN MYRIAD WAYS

1. They will institutionalize the measures.

2. It will provide optimum mixture of preventive and punitive measures.

4. It will ensure citizens participation in curbing corruption.

1. Promoting transparency within political parties, their funding and operations.

2. Codifying the parliament and legislative privileges.

3. Ensuring healthy and informed discussions and debates.

5. Emphasis should be laid on proactive vigilance

6. effective implementation of Citizen charters and strengthening grievance redressal mechanism.

7. Reducing discretion at various levels.

8. Strengthening citizen participation avenues.

9. Promoting usage of information and communication technology.

10.Creating transparency and openness in government spending.

3. Strengthening judicial accountability.

Executive reform incorporated in the legal and institutional mechanism of government.

1. Promoting transparency and strengthening accountability channels.

2. Emphasis should be laid on proactive vigilance.

3. Strengthening grievance redressal mechanism.

4. Reducing discretion at various levels.

6. Promoting usage of information and communication technology.

7. Promoting transparency via incorporating RTI act

8. Paying civil servants well.

9. Replacing regressive and distorting subsidies with targeted cash transfers.

10. Ending red-Tapism.

 Data on hunger in India.

LACK OF AVAILABILITY OF FOOD AS MAIN CAUSE OF HUNGER

3. Issues of technological upgradation and insensitiveness of officials: Identification and distribution

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INEFFECTIVE HUMAN DEVELOPMENT POLICIES AS A CAUSE OF HUNGER

 Define Sexual harassment and its root cause.

MUCH NEEDS TO BE DONE

 Introduce by defining Urbanisation.

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