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

1. “Modern slavery occurs in almost every society, and cuts across ethnic, cultural and religious lines”. Elaborate on the reason behind it and suggest solutions. (250 Words)

‘The Global Estimates Of Modern Slavery’, a report published by the International Labour Organisation (ILO), International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and international human rights group Walk Free, said 50 million people were living in modern slavery in 2021. Of these, 28 million were in forced labour and 22 million were trapped in forced marriage.

Key Demand of the question:

Define modern slavery. Show how it occurs in every region and why?

Give a brief introduction of what is Modern slavery. Give examples- forced/child marriage, forced labour, sexual exploitation, etc.

Next, give reasons for its prevalence in almost every society in the world.

Then, suggest solutions to address it (see the summary of the report or the article)

Conclude by giving a way forward for the patent regime in India.

Modern slavery, is comprised of two principal components – forced labour and forced marriage. Both refer to situations of exploitation that a person cannot refuse or cannot leave because of threats, violence, deception, abuse of power or other forms of coercion.

‘The Global Estimates of Modern Slavery’, a report published by the International Labour Organisation (ILO), International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and international human rights group Walk Free, said 50 million people were living in modern slavery in 2021.

Different types of Modern Slavery

Forced labour & Debt Bondage

Reliable information and statistics on forced labour, forced marriage, and human trafficking are critical to promoting awareness and understanding of the problem, and to informing policy responses. It is hoped that the findings presented in the report will encourage further research and data collection efforts focused on the national and local dimensions of all forms of modern slavery.

Topic: Parliament-Structure, functioning and conduct of business, the role of President in parliamentary democracy.

2. President can intervene on behalf of the citizenry against the tyranny of the executive. Comment.

Reference: The Hindu, Insights on India

The article came in an opinion piece of The Hindu on the role of the president in parliamentary democracy.

Key Demand of the question:

To write about the manner of elections of the President and power of the President over different bills passed by the Parliament.

Comment– here we have to express our knowledge and understanding of the issue and form an overall opinion thereupon.

Begin by introducing about President and the powers of the President

First, write the tools available to the president, using which it can intervene to protect the right of citizens against executives. Cite examples to support your answer.

Next, write a few limitations of this approach.

Next, mention how to strengthen the position of president esp. if the government is majoritarian at the executive level- committee report/law commission/ ARC.

Conclude by writing a way forward.

Article 53 reads as ‘The executive power of the Union shall be vested in the President and shall be exercised by him either directly or through officers’ subordinate to him’. In spite of the expression ‘directly’ in Article 53 of the Constitution, India’s President merely ‘reigns and does not rule’. The role of president is largely ceremonial in nature. This was the consequence of 42nd Constitutional Amendment that drastically curtailed the President’s powers with respect to the Council of Ministers. Article 74 (1) now mandates the President to act on the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers. This prevents the president becoming a power center rivalling that of prime minister.

President’s role in Indian political setup:

By looking at the powers of the President, it becomes quite easy to evaluate the position of the President. At the face value, the powers of the President appear to be very big and formidable. A close review, however, reveals that President of India is a nominal and constitutional executive head who exercises all his powers on the advice of the Prime Minister and his Council of Ministers. The President is always bound to accept the advice of the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers. However, despite such a provision, the President is neither merely a figure head nor a rubber stamp in the hands of the Ministry.

Indian Presidents are not rubber-stamps:

President can play an effective role:

The President is not a silent institution and his role stands beyond the constitutional provisions and established conventions. The powers of the President flow from the oath he takes under Article 60 to ‘preserve, protect and defend the Constitution and submit himself to the service and well -being of people of India’. Therefore, new norms can be devised and used to preserve the faith and belief of the common man in the system. These norms can be:

The office of the President should not be conceived as merely a ceremonial post or a rubber stamp. Within the confines of constitution, a president can redefine the activities of his office. The President can declare Emergency, suspend rights, dissolve state Assemblies and declare the government bankrupt.

Topic : India – China, India – USA

3. India’s rise over the last decades has been enabled by the rules-based international order. So too has the People’s Republic of China. Nevertheless, the two countries have taken very different paths. Elucidate with suitable examples. (10M)

The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 2 and mentioned as part of the Mission-2023 Secure timetable.

Key Demand of the question:

Discuss briefly the rise of India and China in the region, and how they have taken different paths.

Start with the current context of the question.

The answer body must have the following aspects covered:

First, mention how rules-based international order has led to the rise of India by giving suitable examples. Same with China. E.g free economy etc

Then, write about how both countries have taken different paths – one being a democracy and the other being communist. China is assertive and India – is diplomatic, etc

Discuss what should be the way forward – what both countries have achieved till now.

India’s rise in the last decade has been based on developmental partnerships, alliances based on mutual interest and strictly rules based. While China’s dominance has been through aggression over smaller nations, threatening neighbours like India, Taiwan and extractionist at best especially in Africa.

Thus the two nations have chalked a path that are vastly different in nature.

India’s rise based on rules-based international order

China’s growth and contradiction to the path taken vis-a-vis India

India is set to play a major role in the global politics in the coming years by virtue of being the largest democracy and whose growth story has been phenomenal. India must strive hard to influence decisions which are crucial for the well-being of all people across the globe.

4. India’s interests will be parallel to those of the United States, but they would not be identical. Analyze the statement in the context of India-US relations. (10M)

The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 2 and mentioned as part of the Mission-2023 Secure timetable.

Key Demand of the question:

To write about the scope of India–United States (US) relations – in spheres of defence, technology, etc. How these are parallel but not the same.

Analyse – When asked to analyse, you must examine methodically the structure or nature of the topic by separating it into component parts and present them in a summary.

Begin by giving context regarding the growth of the India-U.S relationship in the recent past.

In the first part, write about the US as India’s most comprehensive strategic partner, and cooperation between the two extends across multiple areas such as trade, defense, multilateralism, intelligence, cyberspace, civil nuclear energy, education, and healthcare.

Next, write about how even though in all these spheres they cooperate and are parallel in ideologies but not the same as both have diverged aspirations, and are based on different ideologies like NAM.

Conclude by writing a way forward.

India USA have seen ascendance of relationship in the 21st century, which was crystalised by 2008 India Nuclear Civil Nuclear Agreement. Various factors, including LPG reforms, rise of China, increasing influence of Indian community in USA are the factors behind this. Also, the shared values of democracy, rule of law, human rights, religious freedom bind the countries together.

India and USA relations aligned with each other

Despite the differences in some areas, the upward trajectory in India USA relations indicates a sense of greater nuance to the need for institutionalisation of bilateral ties — towards not only graduating the bilateral dynamic away from over-dependence on chemistry between the top political leadership, but also design frameworks in a manner that maximise convergences between the two countries.

The changing geopolitics, and increased Chinese aggression necessitates closer cooperation between India USA. Thus, the relationship is two-sided. Just as India benefited from US inputs during Doklam and recent India China standoff, the US has benefited from Indian defence spending.

5. What do you understand by ‘Windfall Tax’? Why has the Union government introduced such a tax recently? Examine its significance for resource mobilization for the country. (250 Words)

Recently government introduced a windfall tax due to rising crude prices, on the refining companies. In early August, Antonio Guterres, the United Nations Secretary-General, sharply criticised the “grotesque greed” of big oil and gas companies for making record profits from the global energy crisis on the back of the world’s poorest people. He urged all governments to tax these excessive profits.

Key Demand of the question:

Explain the concept of the windfall tax. Examine its significance and a few limitations.

Give a brief introduction of what is Windfall tax.  and.

With data/stat show why was it introduced in India? Has it helped India? How has the experience been in other countries?

Next, give a few limitations of such a tax for resource mobilization for the country.

Conclude with a way forward and need to depend on a regular source of resources. 

Windfall taxes are designed to tax the profits a company derives from an external, sometimes unprecedented event— for instance, the energy price-rise as a result of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

These are profits that cannot be attributed to something the firm actively did, like an investment strategy or an expansion of business. The United States Congressional Research Service (CRS) defines a windfall as an “unearned, unanticipated gain in income through no additional effort or expense”.

The Central government on July 1, introduced a windfall profit tax of ₹23,250 per tonne on domestic crude oil production, which was subsequently revised fortnightly four times so far. The latest revision was on August 31, when it was hiked to ₹13,300 per tonne from ₹13,000.

However, The one-off taxes, which by definition are imposed retrospectively, are seen as arbitrary, fueling uncertainty among businesses about future taxes.The imposition of windfall tax is branded as anti-investment and anti-business.

Notably, even when a similar tax was introduced by the U.S in the 1980s on domestic oil companies, the revenue it generated for the government was significantly lower than what it had projected, while the tax also reduced domestic oil production and increased imports.

Topic:   Science and Technology: issues relating to intellectual property rights;

6. Highlighting the purpose of granting patents, discuss the issues concerning it and suggest solutions to address them for India. (250 Words)

The recent report of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (EAC-PM), Why India Needs to Urgently Invest in its Patent Ecosystem? highlights the significance of a robust patent system for a knowledge economy and for the promotion of technological innovations. 

Key Demand of the question:

Patents, their issues and solutions.

Discuss – This is an all-encompassing directive – you must debate on paper by going through the details of the issues concerned by examining each one of them. You must give reasons for both for and against arguments.

Give a brief introduction of what is Patent.

Give its significance to India. Mention section 146(2), Patents Act, 1970 a unique provision not found in patent laws of most other countries. Talk about its needs for India as a developing country and mention the example of a Compulsory license for the production of Bayer Corporation’s Nexavar. You may mention, the amendment to the Patent Rules, 2020 and form 27 which has caused dilution of section 146(2).

Next, list down a few issues- at the national as well as at the International level.

Then, suggest solutions for it.

Conclude by giving a way forward for the patent regime in India.

The recent report of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (EAC-PM), highlights the significance of a robust patent system for a knowledge economy and for the promotion of technological innovations. It highlights the rising share of residents in the total number of patent applications filed in India, which has more than doubled during the last decade. And, for the first time, the number of patent applications by residents has surpassed that of foreign applications during the last quarter of the financial year 2021-22.

A major concern expressed in the EAC-PM report is the long pendency of processing patent applications in India

Purpose of granting patents and their significance

Challenges and issues with the patent sustem in India

As the patent system is a critical aspect of the national innovation ecosystem, investing in the patent ecosystem will help in strengthening the innovation capability of India. The right interventions should be made for the promotion of the quality of patent applications and collaboration between academia and industry.

Topic:  Human Values – lessons from the lives and teachings of great leaders, reformers, and administrators;

7. What does this quote means to you? (150 words)

“Remember, no one is stopping you from lighting a lamp in a dark night.” – Harivansh Rai Bacchan

The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 4 and part of ‘Quotes Wednesdays’ in Mission-2023 Secure.

Begin by explaining the literal meaning of the quote.

Elaborate upon the quote, how in extreme darkness too there can be hope. Cite examples to substantiate.

Next, write about factors that stop one from lighting a lamp (i.e taking action) during harsh times. Substantiate with examples.

Then, mention how one should move forward and move towards the light.

Summarise by highlighting the importance of the quote in the present day.

We’ve experienced a global pandemic, dramatic changes to how we conduct our daily lives, economic uncertainty, and political and social turmoil, as well as an array of natural disasters. Then there are personal traumas that people are also dealing with, such as the loss of a loved one, declining health, unemployment, divorce, violent crime, or tragic accidents. This is a time of unprecedented struggle and upheaval.

To overcome everything, we must act and find the courage to be brave in the hardest of hardships. There will be light after the tunnel.

While there’s no way to avoid sorrow, adversity, or distress in life, there are ways to help smooth the rough waters and regain a sense of control. Resilience is the ability to cope with the loss, change, and trauma that have been inevitable parts of life even before these extraordinary times. Building resilience can help better adapt to life-changing events, cope with turbulent times, and bounce back from hardship and tragedy.

Take the example of the Nazi Germany, the fact that millions of Germans turned a blind eye towards the atrocities inflicted on Jews shows how grave inaction of people can lead to a holocaust. Germans collectively failed their fellow Jews through inaction and the cruelty became banal and ordinary as a day-to-day happening.

By choosing to not act regarding a situation, one may be excusing himself from preventing an evil. Take for example, the act of voting, by not voting, which is a duty of a responsible citizen, he or she is enabling a tyrant to take control of the State.

Hence inaction is also injurious in many situations and those who are guilty of inaction must also be held accountable. If we do nothing, nothing will change. So, inaction is worse than making a bad decision. One must not be a fence-sitter, rather always take a decision and act upon it. Only then, there can be experiences learning and personal growth.

The darkest places in hell are reserved for those who maintain their neutrality in times of moral crisis. If Gandhiji, Bhagat Singh, Sardar Patel and the likes of such freedom fighters did not take charge to secure India’s freedom then we would have not been rid of colonialism.

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