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.
General Studies – 1
Topic: The Freedom Struggle — its various stages and important contributors/contributions from different parts of the country.
– Analyse the reasons for the French failure in the third Carnatic War.What was the impact of British victory in the war on the Indian political set up? (250 words)
Difficulty level: Easy
Reference: Insights on India
Why the question: The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 1 and mentioned as part of Mission-2023 Secure timetable.
Key Demand of the question: To analyse the reasons for the victory of English over the European rivals in India.
Directive word:
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 as a whole in a summary.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by giving context, as to how the third Carnatic paved way for the emergence of British Indian empire.
Body:
Draw a small map of pre-independent India showing the major centres of European powers in India.
In the first part, elaborate upon as to how among the European powers in India, French were the strongest as well as historical adversary of the English and tussle between them was witnessed over the three Carnatic wars.
Next, analyse the reasons as how the British were able to get better of their European Counter parts.Keep in mind as not make your just about Anglo-French Rivalry.This question is about English against all the European powers such as Portuguese, Danes, Dutch and the French.
Conclusion:
Sum up the answer, with the elimination of their European adversaries, the British now turned their attention to Indian Kings.
Introduction
The Anglo-French struggle lasted in India for nearly 20 years and this ultimately gave way to the establishment of British power in India.In the Carnatic region and Bengal, the Anglo-French rivalry was much evident.In Bengal, their hostility had been contained by the effective intervention of Alivardi Khan.
But in the south, the French position was reinforced due to the arrival of a fleet from Mauritius and this resulted in an attack by French on the English position in Madras.
Body
In Europe, when Austria wanted to recover Silesia in 1756, the Seven Years War (1756-63) started.Britain and France were once again on opposite sides.
Course of War in India:
– In 1758, the French army under French General,Count Thomas Arthur de Lally captured the English forts of St.David and Vizianagaram in 1758.
– Now, the English became offensive and inflicted heavy losses on the French fleet under Admiral D’Acheat Masulipatnam.
Battle of Wandiwash:
– The decisive battle of the Third Carnatic War was won by the English on January 22, 1760 at Wandiwash (or Vandavasi) in Tamil Nadu.
– General Eyre Cooteof the English totally routed the French army under Count de Lally and took Marquis de Bussy as prisoner.
– Pondicherry was gallantly defended by Lally for eight months before he surrendered on January 16, 1761.
– With the loss of Pondicherry, Gingee and Mahe, the French power in India was reduced to its lowest.
– Lally, after being taken as prisoner of war at London, returned to France where he was imprisoned and executed in 1766.
Result and Significance:
– The Third Carnatic War proved decisive.
– The third war ended with the Treaty of Peace of Paris (1763)under which Pondicherry and Chandannagar were returned to France but they could only have trading activities in them.
– Although the treaty restored to the French their factories in India, the French political influence disappeared after the war.
– Thereafter, the French, like their Portuguese and Dutch counterparts in India, confined themselves to their small enclaves and to commerce.
– The English became thesupreme European power in the Indian subcontinent.
Causes for the French Failure & English Success
– Lesser Governmental Control over British:The English Company was a private enterprise.This created a sense of enthusiasm and self-confidence among the people.With less governmental control over it, this company could take instant decisions when needed without waiting for the approval of the government.The French company, on the other hand, was a State concern.It was controlled and regulated by the French government and was hemmed in by government policies and delays in decision-making.
– Superior British Navy and Bigger Cities under Control:The English navy was superior to the French navy; it helped to cut off the vital sea link between the French possessions in India and France.The English held three important places, namely, Calcutta, Bombay and Madras whereas the French had only Pondicherry.
– British were Strong with Funds:The French subordinated their commercial interest to territorial ambition, which made the French company short of funds.In spite of their imperialistic motives, the British never neglected their commercial interests.The British always had the funds and the consequent sound financial condition to help them significantly in the wars against their rivals.
– Superior British Commanders:A major factor in the success of the English in India was the superiority of the commanders in the British camp.In comparison to the long list of leaders on the English side – Sir Eyre Coote, Major Stringer Lawrence, Robert Clive and many others, there was only Dupleix on the French side.
Conclusion
The victory at Wandiwash left the English East India Company with no European rival in India.Thus, they were ready to take over the rule of the entire Country.Significantly, in the Battle of Wandiwash, natives served in both the armies as sepoys.It makes one think that irrespective of which side won, there was an inevitability about the fall of India to European invaders.
Topic: The Freedom Struggle — its various stages and important contributors/contributions from different parts of the country.
2.There is hardly any doubt that the effects of the ryotwari system upon the rural economy were distinctly harmful.The peasants were impoverished and lacked the resources to cultivate new lands.
Elaborate.(250 words)
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: A Brief History of Modern India by Rajiv Ahir (Spectrum Publishers)
Why the question: The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 1 and mentioned as part of Mission-2023 Secure timetable.
Key Demand of the question: To write about the drawbacks of the Ryotwari settlement which was disastrous in its implementation while it was originally designed to counter the deficiencies of Zamindari settlement.
Directive word:
Elaborate – Give a detailed account as to how and why it occurred, or what is the context.You must be defining key terms wherever appropriate and substantiate with relevant associated facts.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
The introduction must highlight the circumstances that led to the introduction of Ryotwari which was supposed to be better than the Zamindari system.
Body:
The body should clearly highlight how the Ryotwari Settlement seemed fair and practical on paper but the devil was in its implementation.
All the drawbacks of the settlement must be clearly stated with supporting data.The impact it caused upon peasants in areas it was introduced must also written.The flaw in the logic and its implementation must be brought out.
Conclusion:
The conclusion must bring out the steps taken by the government to improve the conditions of the Ryotwari areas.
Introduction
The Ryotwari system was introduced in Madras, Bombay & Assam by Thomas Munro in 1820.
It was supposed to be boon for present and improve their condition.It was mainly introduced to overcome the lacunae of the Zamindari System and increase the revenue collection for the British.
Body
Features of Ryotwari system
– The government could deal directly with the farmer (‘ryot’) for revenue collection, and the peasant may cede or purchase more land for agriculture.
– peasant were made land owner and it can be taken away only for non-payment of revenue
– Freedom was given to give up or acquire new land
– Middlemen were eliminated who often oppressed peasant and provided false assessment of land being cultivated to the British
Optimistic official has imagined that new system would transform peasant into rich farmers but this did not happened.Ryotwari settlement seems fair and practical on paper but proved to be worse than zamindari system.
Impacts of Ryotwari System
– High taxation rate – levy was not based on actual revenue from produce of land but instead on estimate of potential of the soil.
– 50% for dryland and 60% for irrigated land
– Payment of land tax in cash – cash payment ruined cultivators, exposing them to demands of money lenders as an alternate to the loss of land and starvation when crop failed
– Revenue officials harassed villages – subordinate revenue officer forgiven much power who’s activities were in adequately supervised they were industries in Harsh measure for non-payment delayed payment
– Misery of cash crops – in order to gain huge profit farmers fell into the trap of government’s proposal to grow cash crops like Indigo opium which lead to scarcity of food grains and in fertility of soil.
– Land became commodity – excessive marketing of land for or payment of tax in cash has led to the loss of sentimental link that existed between land and the farmers.
– Many owner-cultivators and occupancy tenants, having a permanent right to hold land, found it more convenient to lease out land to land-hungry tenants at exorbitant rent than to cultivate it themselves.
– In time, landlordism became the main feature of agrarian relations not only in the zamindari areas but also in the Ryotwari ones
– Growth of subinfeudation or intermediaries – Since the cultivating tenants were generally unprotected and the overcrowding of land led the tenants to compete with one another to acquire land, the rent of land went on increasing.
Conclusion
Therefore, even though in theory, the Ryotwari settlement was supposed to prove better than the permanent settlement, in practice its impact was far worse.
It became more devilish version of Zamindari system.
General Studies – 2
Topic: devolution of powers and finances up to local levels and challenges therein.
3.The health of municipal finances is a critical element of municipal governance which will determine whether India realises her economic and developmental promise under the 74th Constitution Amendment Act.Examine.(250 words).
Difficulty level: Tough
Reference: The Hindu
Why the question: Recently, the Indian Institute for Human Settlements (IIHS) analysed data from 80 ULBs across 24 States between 2012-13 and 2016-17 to understand ULB finance and spending, and found some key trends.
Key Demand of the question: To write about role of municipal finance in achieving economic and developmental goals of Urban Local bodies.
Directive word:
Examine – When asked to ‘Examine’, we must investigate the topic (content words) in detail, inspect it, investigate it and establish the key facts and issues related to the topic in question.While doing so we should explain why these facts and issues are important and their implications.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Start by briefly mentioning aims and objectives of 74th Constitution Amendment Act.
Body:
First, write about the various aspects of finances as mandate by the 74th Constitution Amendment Act.
Next, write about the various challenges in securing and ensuring availability of funds to the ULBs.Write about tis impact.
Next, suggest ways to overcome them and ensure availability of finances with ULBs.
Conclusion:
Conclude by writing a way forward.
Introduction
The 74th Constitution Amendment Act was passed in 1992 mandating the setting up and devolution of powers to urban local bodies (ULBs) as the lowest unit of governance in cities and towns.Constitutional provisions were made for ULBs’ fiscal empowerment.However, three decades since, growing fiscal deficits, constraints in tax base expansion, and weakening of institutional mechanisms that enable resource mobilisation remain challenges.
Body
Various aspects of finances of ULB’s
– Tax Revenue: The revenue from the local taxes include property tax, entertainment tax, taxes on advertisements, professional tax, water tax, tax on animals, lighting tax, pilgrim tax, market tax, toll on new bridges, octroi and so on.
In addition, the municipal bodies imposes various cesses like library cess, education cess, beggary cess and so on.Octroi (i.e., taxes on the entry of goods into a local area for consumption, use or sale therein) has been abolished in most of the states.Property tax is the most important tax revenue.
– Non-Tax Revenue: This source include rent on municipal properties, fees and fines, royalty, profits and dividends, interest, user charges and miscellaneous receipts.The user charges (i.e., payment for public utilities) include water charges, sanitation charges, sewerage charges and so on.
– Grants: These include the various grants given to municipal bodies by the Central and State Governments for several development programmes, infrastructure schemes, urban reform initiatives and so on.
– Devolution: This consists of the transfer of funds to the urban local bodies from the state government.This devolution is made on the basis of the recommendations of the state finance commission.
– Loans: The urban local bodies raise loans from the state government as well as financial institutions to meet their capital expenditure.They can borrow from the financial institutions or other bodies only with the approval of the state government.
Challenges in securing and ensuring availability of funds
– Financial condition: The first is that ULBs’ own sources of revenue were less than half of their total revenue, with large untapped potential.The ULBs’ key revenue sources are taxes, fees, fines and charges, and transfers from Central and State governments, which are known as inter-governmental transfers (IGTs).
– Government transfers: Second, many ULBs were highly dependent on IGTs.Transfers from the Central government are as stipulated by the Central Finance Commissions and through grants towards specific reforms, while State government transfers are as grants-in-aid and devolution of State’s collection of local taxes.
– Poor governance: The largest reason for the poor condition of India’s cities is the failure of municipal governance.
There is a lack of planning and governance at the urban local body level.
– Lack of management capacity: Indian municipalities do not have the management capacity to either plan economic activity or execute it.The system of recruitment fails to bring in the best men.Several vacancies are not filled for years and transfers are affected at the free will of the senior bureaucrats and the government.
– Corruption: In these bodies’ corruption, favouritism and nepotism are rampant.In the case of most of the bodies, the state government is empowered to take disciplinary action and the urban body has very little control over its personnel.
– O&M expenses: The operations and maintenance (O&M) expenses are on the increase but still inadequate.
O&M expenses are crucial for the upkeep of infrastructure and for maintaining quality of service delivery.The share of O&M expenses in ULBs’ total revenue expenditure increased from about 30% in 2012-13 to about 35% in 2016-17.
– Lack of coordination: Poor coordination among centre, state, and various departments at local level led to poor implementation of urban policies.Inability to coordinate leads to administrative inefficiency and thus poor urban governance.
Measures to overcome
– Greater autonomy: The urban local bodies should be given greater autonomy.India needs to follow a devolved model that empowers urban local bodies.
Municipalities should be more autonomous in their functioning, so that they can deliver quality service.
– Governance Reforms: Governance reform are needed as catalyst for change.
The Government may consider the adoption of a common categorisation of urban bodies across the country so as to assist a systematic planning process and devolution of funds.All areas having population more than 10 lakhs should be defined metropolitan areas.
– Timely elections and recruitment: For strengthening ULBs, a minimum level of staffing should be provided in metropolitan areas.Elections to ULBs should not be, generally, delayed beyond six months.
– Encouraging public-private partnership: Successful PPP programs should be formulated at both state and city levels to fund city development.Role of the state should be to create an enabling environment with an aim to expand and deepen private sector investments in infrastructure.
– Holistic approach: It is important to integrate various urban development and related programs at local, state and national levels to develop sustainable city or metropolitan regions.Urban institutions should be strengthened and roles of different organisations should be fixed.
Conclusion
The scale of municipal finances in India is undoubtedly inadequate.A ULB’s realised own revenue resources are far below the estimated potential.Tapping into property taxes, other land-based resources and user charges are all ways to improve the revenue of a ULB.
IGTs assume significance in the fiscal composition of ULBs, and a stable support from Central and State governments is crucial till ULBs improve their own revenues.Measures need to be made to also cover O&M expenses of a ULB for better infrastructure and service.
General Studies – 3
Topic: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of resources, growth, development and employment.
4.Critically Examine the need of central bank digital currency (CBDC) in India’s economy.
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: Live Mint
Why the question: Global interest in central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) is on the rise, with 80% of all central banks investigating their issuance and half having progressed past research to running pilots.
Key Demand of the question: To write about CBDC, its potential benefits and challenges and to its need in India.
Directive word:
Critically examine – When asked to ‘Examine’, we have to look into the topic (content words) in detail, inspect it, investigate it and establish the key facts and issues related to the topic in question.While doing so we should explain why these facts and issues are important and their implications.
When ‘critically’ is suffixed or prefixed to a directive, one needs to look at the good and bad of the topic and give a fair judgment.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Start by explaining the emerging concept central bank digital currency (CBDC)
Body:
In the first part, write about potential benefits that India can accrue from CBDC.financial inclusion, the cashless society, decrease the cost of printing, expanding the digital economy and empowering citizens etc.
Next, write about potential challenges with regards to CBDC.User adoption, security, complexity, domination by Chinese and Opportunity cost due to RBI’s reluctance etc.
Conclusion:
Conclude with way forward as to how India should step up to CBDC.
Introduction
A Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC), or national digital currency, is simply the digital form of a country’s fiat currency.
Instead of printing paper currency or minting coins, the central bank issues electronic tokens.
This token value is backed by the full faith and credit of the government.
Global interest in central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) is on the rise, with 80% of all central banks investigating their issuance and half having progressed past research to running pilots.
Body
Background
– The Reserve Bank of India is likely to soon kick off pilot projects to assess the viability of using digital currency to make wholesale and retail payments to help calibrate its strategy for introducing a full-scale central bank digital currency (CBDC).
– Union Finance Minister in the budget speech said the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) will launch a central bank digital currency (CBDC) in 2022-23, marking the first official statement from the Union government on the launch of much-awaited digital currency.
Need for a CBDC:
– The growth of cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Ethereum etc has raised challenges to fiat currencies.
– Along with their other vulnerabilities made the central bank of each country explore the possibility of introducing their own digital currencies.
– A 2021 BIS survey of central banks, which found that 86% were actively researching the potential for such currencies, 60% were experimenting with the technology, and 14% were deploying pilot projects.
– The need for inter-bank settlement would disappear as it would be a central bank liability handed over from one person to another.
Challenges posed:
– India is already facing many cyber security threats.With the advent of digital currency, cyberattacks might increase and threaten digital theft like Mt Gox bankruptcy case.
– According to the Digital Empowerment Foundation in 2018 report, around 90% of India’s population is digitally illiterate.So, without creating enough literary awareness introduction of digital currency will create a host of new challenges to the Indian economy.
– Introduction of digital currency also creates various associated challenges in regulation, tracking investment and purchase, taxing individuals, etc.
– The digital currency must collect certain basic information of an individual so that the person can prove that he’s the holder of that digital currency.This basic information can be sensitive ones such as the person’s identity, fingerprints etc.
Conclusion:
There are crucial decisions to be made about the design of the currency with regards to how it will be issued, the degree of anonymity it will have, the kind of technology that is to be used, and so on.There is no doubt that the introduction of National Digital currency prevents the various threats associated with the private-owned cryptocurrencies and take India the next step as a digital economy.But the government has to create necessary safeguards before rolling out.India needs to move forward on introducing an official digital currency.
Value addition
Global situation of CBDC
According to the Bank for International Settlements, more than 60 countries are currently experimenting with the CBDC.There are few Countries that already rolled out their national digital currency.
Such as,
– Swedenis conducting real-world trials of their digital currency (krona)
– The Bahamasalready issued their digital currency “Sand Dollar” to all citizens
– Chinastarted a trial run of their digital currency e- RMB amid pandemic.They plan to implement pan-China in 2022.This is the first national digital currency operated by a major economy.
Working of CBDC:
– A central bank digital currency is the legal tender issued by a central bank in digital form.
– It is the same as a fiat currency but the form is different and is exchangeable one-to-one with the government-issued money.
– In other words, CBDC is the same as the legal currency we use.Just that it’s in a digital form.
– A CBDC is the digital form of fiat currency and will ease transactions.
– An RBI report had earlier described CBDC as something that will provide a safe, robust, and convenient alternative to physical cash.
– Depending on various design choices, it can also assume the complex form of a financial instrument, the RBI report said.
– A CBDC is not a crypto currency.
CBDC is the digital form of a legal tender but private virtual currencies are entirely different.
– CBDCs use distributed ledger technology (DLT), which is typically deployed in a hybrid architecture i.e.existing central bank and payment infrastructure + DLT for movement, transparency, workflow and audit trail or tracing of funds (value).
– This technology helps in efficiency (speed), security (encryptions) and also other aspects like smart contracts which execute buy and sell transactions based on a pre-defined criteria and opens up the possibility of ‘programmable’ money.
Potential of a CBDC:
– An official digital currency would reduce the cost of currency management while enabling real-time payments without any inter-bank settlement.
– India’s fairly high currency-to-GDP ratio holds out another benefit of CBDC — to the extent large cash usage can be replaced by CBDC, the cost of printing, transporting and storing paper currency can be substantially reduced.
– As the currency in digital form, it can provide an efficient way for financial transaction.Further, digital currency also solves the challenges with Cash and coins.Cash and coins require expenses in storage and have inherent security risks like the recent heist in the RBI currency chest.
– There are about 3,000 privately issued cryptocurrencies in the world.
According to IMF, the key reason for considering national digital currency is to counter the growth of private forms of digital money.
– There is a possibility of these companies going bankrupt without any protection.This will create a loss for both investor and creditor.But the National Digital currency has government backing in case of any financial crisis.
– As the state-backed digital currency can provide investor/consumer protection, the private can confidently invest in the associated infrastructure without any doubts over its regulation.This will improve the services to people.
– The national digital currency will be regulated by the RBI.
So, there will be less volatility compared to other digital currencies.
– Current RBI’s work on inflation targeting can be extended to national digital currency also.Since India is planning to ban other cryptocurrencies, the RBI can better regulate digital and fiat currency.Thus, upgrading to digital currency and balancing the macroeconomic stability.
– With the introduction of CBDC in a nation, its central bank would be able to keep a track of the exact location of every unit of the currency, thereby curbing money laundering.
– Criminal activities can be easily spotted and ended such as terror funding, money laundering, and so forth
Topic: Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life.
5.Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the most serious global public health threats in this century.Discuss the role AMR vaccines can play in preventing fatalities by AMR.(250 words)
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: Down to Earth
Insights on India
Why the question: The World Health Organization has stressed the need to accelerate trials for antimicrobial resistance-related vaccines in late-stage development and maximise the use of existing ones.
Key Demand of the question: To write about concerns surrounding AMR, initiatives taken to tackle it and role of AMR vaccines.
Directive word:
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.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Define AMR and its causes.
Body:
First, write about the why there is global cause of concern – Superbug, Multi drug resistance to bacterium and viruses, Increased cost of treatment, prolonged hospitalisation, increased mortality and less effective inoculation.
Next, write about the various initiatives to tackle AMR – Global Action Plan on AMR, World Anti-microbial awareness week, Delhi Declaration on AMR, National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance etc.
Evaluate its efficacy.
Next, write about the role and efficacy of AMR vaccines and how they should be focussed upon.
Conclusion:
Conclude by writing a way forward.
Introduction
The WHO defines antimicrobial resistance (AMR) as a condition wherein microbes survive when exposed to the drug which would have normally caused them to die.It is the resistance acquired by any microorganism like bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasite, etc.against antimicrobial drugs (such as antibiotics, antifungals, antivirals, antimalarial, and anthelmintic) that are used to treat infections and is regarded as a major threat to public health across the globe.
The World Health Organization has stressed the need to accelerate trials for antimicrobial resistance-related vaccines in late-stage development and maximise the use of existing ones.
Body
AMR- growing public health concern
– Ever since the pandemic struck, concerns have been raised about the improper use of antimicrobials amongst Covid-19 patients.
– Drug resistant infections cause 700,000 deaths per year; this number could rise to 10 million by 2050 unless urgent action is taken – WHO.
– The worry is that unnecessary prescription of antimicrobials will lead to a further increase in the already high levels of drug resistance in most parts of the world.
– A growing list of infections – such as pneumonia, tuberculosis, blood poisoning, gonorrhoea, and foodborne diseases – are becoming tougher, and at times impossible, to treat as antibiotics become less productive, emergence and spread of resistance is made worse because of procurement of antibiotics for animal and human consumption without a doctor’s supervision or a prescription etc.
– India has been reporting high levels of resistance to fluoroquinolones, cephalosporins and carbapenems across the Gram-negative pathogens that cause almost 70 per cent of infections in communities and hospitals.
– Burden of infectious disease (Bacterial infections) is high and healthcare spending is low.
– The National Health Policy 2017 highlights the problem of antimicrobial resistance and calls for effective action to address it.
– The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW) identified AMR as one of the top 10 priorities for the ministry’s collaborative work with WHO.
Role and efficacy of AMR vaccines
– Preventing infections using vaccination reduces the use of antibiotics, which is one of the main drivers of AMR.
– Vaccines do have some unique advantages, and therefore bringing additional, and more effective, vaccines to market could have a huge impact on AMR.
– Vaccines already play a critical role, with an impressive track-record of reducing AMR 2.
– Both H.influenzae b and S.pneumoniae vaccines have resulted in a dramatic reduction in disease burden and have been associated with decreased incidence of resistant strains.
– Vaccines also offer a long-term sustainable approach to infection prevention, because pathogen resistance to vaccines is not common.
– For example, vaccines against diphtheria and pertussis have been in use for 70 years without resistance developing.
Challenges
– Vaccine development is expensive, and scientifically challenging, and are associated with high failure rates.
Way forward
– Vaccines against these pathogens are unlikely to be available in the short term.
– Alternative interventions should be pursued urgently to prevent resistant infections due to priority bacterial pathogens.
– There is a need to leverage the lessons of COVID vaccine development and speed up our search for vaccines to address AMR and speed up our search for vaccines to address AMR
Conclusion
Anti-Microbial Resistance is not a country specific issue but a global concern that is jeopardizing global health security.
Antimicrobial resistance is one of the major public health problems.Reducing the incidence of infection through effective infection prevention and control.As stated by WHO, making infection prevention and hand hygiene a national policy priority is need of the hour
General Studies – 4
Human Values – lessons from the lives and teachings of great leaders, reformers and administrators;
6.What does this quote means to you? (150 words)
“The privilege of a lifetime is to become who you truly are.”
― Carl Gustav Jung
Difficulty level: Easy
Why the question: The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 4 and part of ‘Quotes Wednesdays’ in Mission-2023 Secure.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by explaining the literal meaning of the quote and highlighting its core meaning about importance of culture
Body:
Write about the various impediments to become who we truly are and how to come overcome those impediments.Mention how it is a privilege to be who we truly are.Substantiate with examples.
Conclusion:
Summarise by highlighting the importance of the quote in the present day.
Introduction
That age-old advice to “be yourself” is deceptively simple.
Being yourself is a lifetime’s work of discovery and courage, stepping out from behind our fear of not being good enough.
Body
During all the stages of growing up, children are told how they should behave in different situations: at school, with siblings, with parents, and so on.They have to see themselves acting in a certain characteristic way towards friends in order to come to understand themselves as a friend.Similarly, they need to see themselves working in order to get a feel for just what sort of worker they are.
In short, the persona someone has—the way that person sees himself/herself—is learned over a period of time and comes from seeing himself/herself acting in different contexts.
That persona is built up over a period of time until individuals come to recognize themselves as themselves.Only then can they reliably predict how they will act in certain situations.Only then can someone reasonably choose to “be yourself.”
It is commonplace for people to try to present themselves as if they are more attractive and desirable than they really are.A man may pretend to be urbane, and sophisticated, and poised.
Pretending to be someone you’re not is most often a response to an overwhelming feeling of insecurity with letting people see who you truly are.It’s an attempt at overcoming what is misguided thinking that the real you is somehow not worthy.But we must accept ourselves, and that is the key to self-discovery and personal growth.This helps in understanding our potential, to be unapologetically us in all situation and excel in life.
Conclusion
We have to dare to be ourselves, however frightening or strange that self may prove to be (May Sarton).
Because true belonging only happens when we present our authentic, imperfect selves to the world, our sense of belonging can never be greater than our level of self-acceptance.
Human Values – lessons from the lives and teachings of great leaders, reformers and administrators;
7.What does this quote means to you? (150 words)
“Make your ego porous.Will is of little importance, complaining is nothing, fame is nothing.Openness, patience, receptivity, solitude is everything.”
― Rainer Maria Rilke
Difficulty level: Moderate
Why the question: The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 4 and part of ‘Quotes Wednesdays’ in Mission-2023 Secure.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by explaining the literal meaning of the quote and highlighting its core meaning about importance of culture
Body:
Write about role of ego in one’s life.
Mention the various ways ego is manifested and ways it affects individuals, societies and nations.Substantiate with examples.Write about the ways to master ego and control it.
Conclusion:
Summarise by highlighting the importance of the quote in the present day.
Introduction
Ego is nothing but an ‘ever growing obsession’ that is commonly found in everyone.
It is a negative trait that hampers one’s progress in life.
Animals do not have this kind of trait and therefore do not fight among themselves for supercilious reasons.Their fight is only for survival or safety.However, most humans suffer from this monster called ego.
Body
The quote highlights the importance of shedding one’s ego.As we grow up and develop our emotional and social intelligence our character starts to form and mould our personality from a very young age, however interestingly as a child we haven’t learnt or become trapped by our ego.They aren’t frightened by the fear of failure that most of us learn as we get older.
Overcoming Ego
– Practice forgiveness & letting go: “The weak can never forgive.Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong”.The most powerful tool to learn to let go of our egos to make life easier is to practice forgiveness.We have to learn to forgive the people who hurt us and most importantly we have to learn to forgive ourselves.
– Honesty and being open: Honesty provides us unconditional freedom to be connected with ourselves instead of trying to be something that we’re not.
– Let go of controlling attitude: We are not our egos, we are not our jobs, we are not our material possessions, and we are not our achievements.
Once you let your ego control your life, you will never be happy or relaxed because as soon as you lose one of the things that you identify with, the rest will fall like dominos and you will lose your happiness.
– Practice gratitude: It’s not happy people who are thankful; it’s thankful people who are happy.
Conclusion
“When ego is lost, limit is lost.You become infinite, kind and beautiful”.The ego loves to keep us trapped, rehashing old hurts, perceived mistakes, ancient regrets.Only when we let go of ego we can grow as individuals..
