General Studies Paper Complete Mock-II

Test code: 1511

Time allowed: Three hours Maximum Marks: 250 Question Paper Specific Instructions

Please read each of the following instruction carefully before attempting

questions:

a) There are Twenty (20) questions.

b) All the questions are compulsory.

c) The number of marks carried by a question/part is indicated against it. Word limit for each question is 200 words (maximum).

d) Answers must be written in the medium authorized in the Admission Certificate which must be stated clearly on the cover of this Question-cum-Answer (QCA) Booklet in the space provided. No marks will be given for answers written in a medium other than the authorized one.

e) Word limit in questions, wherever specified, should be adhered to.

f) Any page or portion of the page left blank in the Question-cum-Answer Booklet must be clearly struck off.

Write an answer to each in about 200 words. Each question carries equal marks.

1. Article 44 remained dormant since 1950 to keep the fundamental rights alive and thus brightened the shades of diversity. If implemented what can be the future implications?

2. Promulgation of ordinances generally emanates from lack of consensus and deadlocks. What you think, whether the power of president is justified or it is just a tool in the hands of government?

3. Draw a comparison between Indian Parliament and American Congress.

4. Explain the following:

(a) District Planning Committee (b) Pressure Groups

5. The provision of All India Judicial Service under Article 312 has been part of discussion and debates but has not seen light of the day since 1950. If materialized what will be the future implications?

6. "Our institutions of democracy are under stress. The Parliament and state

legislature has been converted into an arena of combat rather than debate.” Discuss the reasons behind and critically comment on the correctives steps to be implemented to make these institutions as deliberative bodies rather as one prone to disruptions.

7. Civil services are cornerstone of Indian governance. Critically examine its role in contemporary period.

8. Discuss various issues which have cropped up regarding alternative dispute

settlement mechanism especially in the case of Tribunals.

9. “What is the relevance of regulatory bodies in India? Critically analyze the

logic of establishing a super regulator for Indian financial market.

10. Involvement of civil society in the policy-making process makes a democracy more participative in nature. Examine the statement in context of India.

11. It is often said that the contemporary practice of PILs has undergone change into a format that has lost sight of its original political and constitutional justification. Do you think PILs represents the interests of the politically and legally marginalized groups any longer? Discuss

12. Critically comment on the important provisions of the new Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Bill, 2015.

13. What is Doha Development Agenda (DDA)? Critically examine outcomes of

Nairobi declaration of WTO vis-à-vis India which took place in December 2015.

14. Discuss the challenges before Nuclear Diplomacy of India. Critically analyse India signing Comprehensive Test ban Treaty (CTBT).

15. Explain India’s Connect Central Asia policy. Also discuss the India’s concerns in the geopolitical developments in west Asia.

16. Recently UNO celebrated completion of its 70 years but parallely last two decades has seen multiplication of several regional organizations that indirectly expose the crisis present in International Organizations’. What are the reasons of such growth? Do you think International Organizations have lost its relevance?

17. The Indian Diaspora is clustered in both first world and third world (Africa,

Latin America, West Asia etc) but it’s unfortunate that their interests, problems and potential have not been central to Indian Diplomacy. DO you agree? Substantiate

18. The situation that exists among nations in their relations to one another is

such that it would be wrong to say that there is no connection between ethics and international relations. How can ethical consideration help resolve tensions arising in International Relations? Discuss with specific examples.

19. The really tough choices don’t center upon right versus wrong. But to choose less wrong between two wrongs and better between two rights, makes all the difference. Comment

20. Write a note on the ethics of utilization of public funds.

MODEL ANSWERS

1. Article 44 remained dormant since 1950 to keep the fundamental rights alive and

thus brightened the shades of diversity. If implemented what can be the future

implications?

Many measures have been taken for the implementation of the directive principles of state

policy, except in the case of Art 44 which has remained as a dead letter until the recent debate

which brought it in lime light after the recent observation made by the SC in this case.

India being such a diverse nation but the major percentage of population being Hindu, so the

code is misunderstood as imposition of Hindu or majority law on all sections uniform civil code

pertains to bring uniformity in all personal laws and not undermining minorities. It can promote

real secularism spirit, reduce burden on our legal system, check vote bank politics thereby

ushering the true spirit of democracy. As in Shah Bano case (1985) it was states that UCC would

help in national integration by removing disparate loyalties to conflicting laws.

But in contemporary discourse, the nation of UCC for gender equity seems lost and instead the

debate remains steadfast communal due to ultra-Orthodox religious factions. The formalization

of this code suffers from the ignorance, lack of political will and vested condemning and

portraying it as a threat to our rich diverse society embracing various religions, ethnicities etc.

Moreover the code should be formulated & implemented in its true spirits, which must imbibe

in it the essence of harmonious personal laws, upholding gender equality and adopting

expansive interpretations on marriage, maintenance, adoption and succession by acknowledge

digging the benefits that one community secures from the other. Judiciary can play a proactive

role in it by identifying and ironing out internal and external inconsistencies by developing a

comprehensive code.

Hence through highly desirable, but UCC can only emerge through an evolutionary process,

which preserves India’s rich legal heritage of personal laws and until the importance of UCC is

not understood this debate will rage on in future.

2. Promulgation of ordinances generally emanates from lack of consensus and

deadlocks. What you think, whether the power of president is justified or it is just a

tool in the hands of government?

Article 123 of the Indian constitution empowers the President to promulgate ordinances, if and

when necessary, during the recess of the Parliament. This provision is meant only for

contingency circumstances, when there is dire need to enact a particular law, and it has to be

used in the rarest of rare cases.

But, of late, it has been observed that it has been used as a handy tool to bypass the regular

parliamentary procedure. This ordinance making power is alleged to be misused by executive to

bypass legislature and avoid deliberate discussions. This was seen in the Bank Nationalization

Case (1969)when the President resorted to the Ordinance Route just one day before the

commencement of the session of Parliament. Also, in the cases like DC Wadhwa v/s State of

Bihar, even Supreme Court condemned it as a constitutional fraud, as 256 ordinances were

repromulgated. It was termed as a Constitutional fraud and colourable exercise of power of

Executive.

Recently the much contested Land Acquisition Ordinance, whose repromulgation has

resuscitated the heated debates and this bill is marred with controversies till date.

Apart from its misuse, the Ordinance Making Route has to be maintained in the Constitution as

there can be unforeseen exigencies, which call for immediate action. As in the Nirbhaya Case

(2013), this route proved to be of immense use.

Hence, though inserted with a positive intention by our Constitutional forefathers, it is

sometimes misused by the government as a handy tool via the route of President.

3. Draw a comparison between Indian Parliament and American Congress.

There is one obvious similarity, both legislatures are bi-cameral i.e. they each have two houses — the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha in our case, the House of Representatives and the Senate in the US. Another similarity is that Senate members, like Rajya Sabha members, are elected for six-year terms, with one-third of the members of Senate being elected every two years.

There are important differences, however. For instance, while the members of the Lok Sabha are elected by the people, Rajya Sabha members come through an indirect election. In the US, since 2013 the members of both the House and the Senate are directly elected.

Secondly, while ministers in India come from among the MPs, in the US the executive is entirely

separated from the legislature. Thus, a person cannot hold an executive office and be a member

of either the House or the Senate at the same time. Further, while in India the number of MPs

from a state in either House is broadly proportional to the state's share in the national

population, in the US, this principle applies only to the House, not to the senate.Finally, the US

House of Representatives does not have the same dominant role in legislation as the Indian Lok

Sabha, which can effectively compel legislation, even if the Rajya Sabha is not willing to accept

it.

4. Explain the following:

(c) District Planning Committee District Planning Committee (DPC) is created for the planning at district level as per article

243ZD of Indian constitution. It has 2 specific responsibilities i.e. drafting development plans and

actual implementation at district level.

DPC decides over the various aspects like spatial planning, sharing of water resources and other

natural resources between the Panchayats & Municipalities. Most of the states have DCP except

Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, J& k and NCT. Though this provision is constructive but it is

marred with various shortcomings such as its ill equipment when it comes to staff, funds, power

devolution and coordination with administration at district level.

(d) Pressure Groups Pressure groups are non-political groups whose mission is to influence the policy decision and

till them in their favor. they accomplish their objective and the modus operand is mounting

pressure on the government through tactics such as mass protests, sloganeering and sometimes

restoring to more sever means. Sometimes they act as a medium through which people with

common interest endeavor to affect the course of public affairs. Pressure groups are a clear

demonstration of political modernization and are inevitable in democratic order as they balance

the nation’s interest and mould government decisions. Sometimes they supply necessary

information and statistics to policy makers through informally they certainly keep democracy

alive as they constitute a barrier against inter-regnum and act as a legislature, using media,

physical demonstration or even violence but their sole agenda is the articulation of their

interests and mutating government decisions. They can be of institutional, Associational, Non-

Associational Or even anomic pressure groups.

5. The provision of All India Judicial Service under Article 312 has been part of

discussion and debates but has not seen light of the day since 1950. If materialized

what will be the future implications?

No doubt that most of the government departments have All India Service recruits, selected

through all India Competitive Examination conducted by UPSC. But Judiciary is the only set up

which does not have a merit based all-India competitive selection process. It has been proposed

by Law Commission thrice, by Supreme Court many times, by Parliamentary Standing

Committees on Law and Justice. But it has not been materialized and still is hanging from nearly

five decades.

The proposal of AIJS could not get far due to opposition by some state governments and high

courts passing the buck to the central government. But if it is implemented in letter and spirit, it

can have significant advantages in various arenas. To quote a few, the recruitment of judges

right from entry level will be handed by an independent and impartial agency like UPSC through

open competition which will provide check on favoritism, red-tapism etc, and usher an

atmosphere of transparency in system. The persons of proven competence will preside over the

benches of superior courts, thereby minimizing the scope of bias, arbitrariness and aberrations.

This will boost the strength of judiciary and will deal with the huge litigation backlog of courts

with a heavy hand. Overall the quality of dispensation of justice will considerably improve,

restoring the trust of commoners in fair judicial system.

Apart from these advantages the process also suffers from few repercussions as linguistic

diversity is observed in India, which will pose challenges to recruits from different regions as

several states prefer to use local language in lower courts. Also the All India Service will hamper

the career progression of state judicial services officers. But at the same time this system will

considerably reform the overall judicial system of India which direly needs such a measure.

6. "Our institutions of democracy are under stress. The Parliament and state legislature

has been converted into an arena of combat rather than debate.” Discuss the reasons

behind and critically comment on the correctives steps to be implemented to make

these institutions as deliberative bodies rather as one prone to disruptions.

It can be seen that the Indian Parliament has become prone to regular disruptions. This has the

effect of reducing the efficiency and effectiveness of Parliament as a deliberative and legislating

authority.

The problems stem due to the following reasons:

1) Push and pull of politics whereby opposition wants to block any legislative proposal made by the

ruling party in order to stall their working.

2) Business Advisory Committees that decide the agenda of house include members of ruling as

well as opposition and the decision is taken through consensus. This allows the government to

block discussions on certain subjects thus leaving opposition with the option of disrupting the

house.

3) No linkage between salaries and allowances with the output of the house.

Steps that can be taken to restore the functions of Parliament and allow a smooth working:

1) Serious induction program focusing on Code of Conduct for MPs.

2) Linking salaries and allowances of MPs with the business transacted within the house.

3) Marking out days when opposition can raise their demands e.g. as followed in British Parliament

where out of 20 days reserved, 17 are for major opposition party and 3 for the rest.

4) Election Commission of India to conduct elections for party so that leader of party is elected in

transparent manner with a majority opinion. This would ensure that whips issued are rational

and not just to oppose the ruling party.

5) Taking up a motion or discussion only after certain number of members gives notice in writing.

6) Committee on Ethics can be given more authority and Code of ethics should be promulgated.

7) Also rationalising the strict anti defection law so to restore the power of individual MP to debate

and discus their opinion without being goaded by the part's whip.

It can be said that functions of parliament are 3Ds-debate, dissent and decision and the fourth

D-disruption should be avoided. Tough measures to bring the ruling and majority parties in line

through disciplinary actions by the Chairperson/speaker of the House should be the way

forward.

7. Civil services are cornerstone of Indian governance. Critically examine its role in

contemporary period.

Civil Services comprise the executive wing of government. It forms the backbone of the entire

administrative setup by assisting the government in formulation and implementation of national

policies and fulfilling its prerogatives. The pivotal role played by civil services can be understood

in following terms:

1. Administrative Role: Civil Servants, by virtue of knowledge, experience and understanding of

public affairs play an important role as permanent executive in maintaining smooth continuity of

administration. It is rather an instrumental role of bureaucracy, as democracy demands that civil

servants are instruments for delivering popular mandates set up by constitution. Civil servants

ensure the maintenance of law and upholding the spirit of ‘Rule of Law’. They enable effective

management, prompt decision making and act as instruments of good governance.

2. Statutory role in governance: Civil Servants discharge the statutory functions under various

legislative enactments which are quasi-judicial in nature. Example: Executive magistrates

3. Civil servants perform an advisory role: They reinforce the principles of pro people planning

and rendering non-partisan advise to political leadership. They provide continuity and expertise

along with institutional memory for effective policy making. This also accounts to the role of

delegated legislation upon them. Public servants therefore play an indispensable role in

providing inputs and later incorporating feedbacks during policy revisions.

4. Neutrality Role: Civil servants scrupulously adhere to the “principle of neutrality” in their

conduct through non-partisan, impartial, objective and empathetic attitude ushering the spirit

of good governance.

5. Coordination Role: Bureaucracy coordinates among different governmental organisations for

the execution of various plans, policies and schemes formulated by different departments and

ministries. They act as a channel of communication between masses and political executives.

They act as receivers of citizen grievances and play crucial role in ensuring proper service

delivery to citizens.

6. Welfare and Development Role: As the government is embracing the role of being a welfare

state, civil servants are shouldered with responsibility to fulfill the developmental objectives of

government. As a welfare state is premised on the ideals of citizen centricity, transparency,

probity, pecuniary integrity in governance.

Hence civil service is a sine qua non of sound administration under democratic regime which

secures social order through Rule of Law and principles of Justice, Fairness and Equity.

8. Discuss various issues which have cropped up regarding alternative dispute

settlement mechanism especially in the case of Tribunals.

Tribunals are the alternative dispute settlement mechanism which has been introduced by 42nd

constitutional amendment .as of now numerous tribunals have been exacted under various

legislations for speedy disposal of cases, but this multiplicity has increase the complexity and

landed these tribunals into various issues. Particular tribunals like Central Administrative

Tribunals, NGT for environment, Income tax tribunal, etc have been enacted to deal with

technical and complex issues involved in respective fields. But the major issues which haunt the

functioning of tribunals are:

1) Conflict of Interest and challenge to the principle of separation of Powers as certain cases

involves complaint against govt. and the judges who hear such petitions in Administrative

Tribunals are executives themselves and not judicial magistrates in particular.

2) Lack of competence in Adjudicating members as they don’t have a legal expertise. This has

always been the plea of judiciary to criticize the working of tribunals.

3) Violation of Separation of powers : It is alleged that tribunals usurp the jurisdiction of courts

and violate the prime principle of Indian constitution But they are definitely necessary for the

working of our dispute redressal system efficiently as they reduce the litigation burden .

Moreover speedy disposal of grievances of commoners is of utmost importance to maintain a

healthy social and ventilate the issues surrounding it.

9. “What is the relevance of regulatory bodies in India? Critically analyze the logic of

establishing a super regulator for Indian financial market.

The need of regulatory bodies emerged in aftermath of 1990’s economic reforms. With the

advent of liberalization, privation and globalization, each and every sector of economy

diversified. Private players from national and international arena entered into Indian market.

Their control and regulation was the need of hour. Accordingly government established

independent regulators for different economic sectors. Their relevance is increasing day by day.

In the Indian context, the regulatory bodies are playing marvelous role. On one hand

these bodies have reduced the burden of these bodies has reduced the burden of Govt. with

decentralization and on other hand these bodies are manned by export personals. The financial

market of India is obsessed by various private entities in banking, insurance, capital market,

commodities market and pension funds. The concerned regulatory bodies are SEBI, PFRDA, and

IRDA etc. In this scenario the debate for single regulator emerged of possible conflicting

regulations. Single regulators can ensure the mechanism for quick resolution of unanticipated

confecting regulations.

But at the same time it should not be forgotten that a single regulator may not always

view the problem from different dimensions. It is also felt that a single monolithic regulatory

organization may not always be nimble and quick enough to respond continuous changes that

are taking place. Wherever the employees of super. Regulatory body launch an agitation, the

whole regulatory framework of financial sectors may come to a grinding halt.

So, there is a need to devise an appropriate mechanism for conflict resolution. There

should be institutionalized regular forum of all the regulators in financial system for exchange of

view and ideas.

10. Involvement of civil society in the policy-making process makes a democracy more

participative in nature. Examine the statement in context of India.

Indian democracy has set an example as the largest democracy of the world. So, the system will

surely be futile if there is no say of civil society. The civil society consists of socially,

economically, educationally and politically proactive section of people. this section play a vital

role by giving exact feedback of previous plans policies, more than that supply expert Guidance

for future policies. Surely, the spirit of democracy always resides in adequate participation of

civil society.

Indian constitution facilitates the due participation of civil society through fundamental rights

and universal Adult franchise (Art 326). Its manifestations can be seen in the implementation of

RTI Act, Jan Lokpal Bill, Social Adult and Good governance etc. time and again, civil society has

continuously raised its voice against any misdeeds, legislations pertained to sectored interested

and most of all against social evils such as sati system, female feticide, illiteracy and Dowry etc.

consequently Sati prohibition Act, PNDT, Dowry prohibition Act, Right to education Act and

Domestic Violence Act are the line examples of pro activeness of civil society in Indian

democracy. These efforts of civil society are further perpetuating the extensive and healthy

participation of people in more vibrant manner.

11. It is often said that the contemporary practice of PILs has undergone change into a

format that has lost sight of its original political and constitutional justification. Do

you think PILs represents the interests of the politically and legally marginalized

groups any longer? Discuss

PILs (Public Interest Litigations) are a tool in the hands of citizens to take active support of

judiciary in the support of wider public interest. it is an effort to bring courts closed to the

marginalized and disadvantaged sections of society. PILs emerged as an antidote to various

social problems but steadily this jurisprudence came under the shadow of objections on the

ground of excessive judicial activism, hidden sectional sector interests behind PILs and wastage

of judiciary time. Various controversies emerged on the grounds of merely eyewash of wider

public in the name of social- welfare approach.

The judicial pro activeness was notices as it triggered legislative reforms and it

resulted in legislature gap. The judiciary seemed to be more oriented to strengthen constitution

and the sphere of government started becoming limited. It is evident that in several cases PIL

are used just as political tool in the hands of politicians merely to set an agenda for their parties

against government various PILs are filed not for public concerns, just to file suits against

political concern. The public interest remained on Blackfoot. In fact number of PILs increased

the burden of judiciary. So, there is a need to utilize the PILs just to safeguard the interest of

Public rather than a tool to fulfill sectored and sectional aspirations.

12. Critically comment on the important provisions of the new Juvenile Justice (Care and

Protection of Children) Bill, 2015.

Juvenile justice (Care and protection of children) Bill is an amendment of juvenile justice Act

2000 which takes into consideration the child in ‘Conflict with Law’ and child in “need of

protection” it defines child as per UNCRC resolution as any one below the age of 18 years but

adds a provision under which 16-18 years can be tried as adult if crime is committed with an

‘adult-like’ mind. This provision has created a great hullabaloo and has overshadowed the entire

bill of its merits or other progressive measures.

As per the bill, juvenile justice board i.e. team of experts is to be constitutions as scientific

studies considers the below 18 years children are of naïve mind and cannot ascertain the right

or wrong. More over there are some inadequacies even in medical expertise for predicting

accurately the minds or cognitions of juveniles, moreover it would go against the principle of Art

14 (because of unequal treatment of 16-18 year old), Art15 (3) and Art 20 (1) Art 21 of Indian

constitution.

Certain provisions which are progressive:-

1. Child welfare committee has been provided as empowered and also given statutory functions in each district to handle child in need of care & protection.

2. Addressing the needs of orphaned, abandoned child. 3. It caters to the developmental needs of the child his protection and treatment in the case of

adoption.

Overall it is an affirmative step taken by government through laying emphasis on “rehabilitation

and reformative approach”.

13. What is Doha Development Agenda (DDA)? Critically Examine outcomes of Nairobi

declaration of WTO vis-à-vis India which took place in December 2015.

The Doha Round of world trade negotiations was launched in Doha, Qatar in November 2001. Named the Doha Development Agenda, this round of trade negotiations is targeted at further liberalizing trade, lowering trade barriers, facilitate increased global trade, whilst facilitating the integration of developing countries, particularly Least Developed Countries (LDCs) into the WTO multilateral system. The developing Nations were complaining that they were facing problems

implementing WTO agreement s. So it lead to formulation of following provisions

1. Each nation can make its own quality control measures. 2. These measures need to be scientific.

3. Earlier TRIPS laws were very strict but now these were relaxed for developing nations for example pharmaceutical patents were relaxed keeping in mind the larger public interest.

4. SPS annex added in GATT regarding Sanitary and phyto sanitary measures agreement on farm products.

India’s disappointment regarding the Nairobi declaration of WTO can be seen due to the

following –

1. Agricultural subsidies – India’s demand for restructuring of agricultural subsidies based

on 1986-88 prices was not achieved and India would have to remove export subsidies

completely by 2023

2. Public stockholding – Resolution of the issue has been pushed to 2017 which means that

Indian subsidies are still considered as ‘trade-distorting’ but allowed under the Peace

clause

3. Agricultural Safeguards – No concrete framework for Special Safeguard Mechanism

(SSM) for developing countries vis-à-vis Special (Agricultural) Safeguards (SSGs) under

Art 5 of AoA

4. Other Doha Development Agenda issues – No resolution on the issue of IPR rights

regarding usage of generic medicines and Special and Differential Treatment accorded

by developed countries to cotton, micro-industries etc.

However, there have been some positive outcomes as well –

1. Export subsidies – Developed countries have committed to remove export subsidies

completely

2. Information Technology Agreement – This agreement would accord huge market access

to Indian firms and promote competitiveness

3. Accession of Afghanistan – Impetus to trade with Afghanistan improving its domestic

economy which will have a direct bearing on security threats emanating from there

Hence, we see that the resolutions are mixed. Looking for a permanent resolution of the

outstanding issues in the 11th Conference as per the DDA guidelines is the way forward

for India.

14. Discuss the challenges before Nuclear Diplomacy of India. Critically analyse India

signing Comprehensive Test ban Treaty(CTBT).

Though India has an independent nuclear policy but in the present scenario of global nuclear

race, India is confronted with various challenges in its nuclear diplomacy. First and foremost

challenge is with those countries which have signed civil nuclear agreements such as USA had

earlier deadlock and now seems to be slow pace of progress due to civil nuclear liability Act. At

the same time Kazakhstan has also certain issues reacted to connectivity. As India is non

signatory in International nuclear Agreements, so the signatory countries feel reluctant to sign

deals with India

Signing CTBT (Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty) is also a serious issue as it may lead to both

positive and negative consequences. The NSG already endorsed the credibility of India’s “No

First Use” policy. The signing of CTBT will provide a sphere for projection of India’s benign

nuclear intentions. It will also reduce India’s security dilemma in neighborhood. It will revive

India’s tradition of leadership in disarmament.

But simultaneously India will be placed in a fragile geo-political matrix with China, Afghanistan

and Pakistan. The modernization of programme of nuclear weapons will come under the

shadow of regulations and limitations. Without it negotiation with Japan would be difficult

before Signe CND (Civil Nuclear Deal) Australia also want India to sign it in coming years as both

have signed CND and it will not be materialized as Australia is already a signatory of CTBT.

15. Explain India’s Connect Central Asia policy. Also discuss the India’s concerns In the

geopolitical developments in west Asia.

India’s connect central Asia policy is a broad diplomatic approach constituting political,

economic, security related and cultural paradigms. India will foster its relationship with central

Asian nations by building strong political relation through the exchange of high level visits.

Indian leadership envisaged the development of strategic and security cooperation through the

medium of joint military exercises, research, counters terrorism activities. India proposed

multilateral engagement with central Asian partners using the synergy of joint efforts through

existing for a like SCC, EEC etc.

Moreover by means of its central Asia Policy India is working on setting up of central Asian e-

network with its hub in India, to deliver on tele-education and telemedicine connectivity linking

all central Asian countries with India. People to people connections/contacts are further

encouraged along with regular exchange of scholars, civil society and youth delegations to gain

deeper insights into each other cultures.

Moreover India has a very deep concern as the policies of dullest Asian nations have enormous

potential for impacting India’s future well being and security. India’s relationship with GCC is

one of the best external relations globally. India rely heavily on West Asia for oil and natural gas

resources (energy and security requirements) A hug Indian Diaspora is working in West Asia

which apart from contributing the foreign remittances are deeply linked to Indian Society as well

So the geopolitical developments in west Asia directly through polities-economic means and

Indirectly effect on India which have wide socio-economic & political implication.

The recent turmoil in west Asia definitely led to serious implication for entire world including

India but the non intrusive, non-prescriptive foreign policy of India has to some extent balanced

the situation.

16. Recently UNO celebrated completion of its 70 years but parallely last two decades

has seen multiplication of several regional organizations that indirectly expose the

crisis present in International Organizations’. What are the reasons of such growth?

Do you think International Organizations have lost its relevance?

Since the beginning of the 21st century, there has been a rise in the number of regional

organizations throughout the world for various reasons. Some of these reasons are:

Finance and Trade – Rise of third world countries in the global economy necessitated regional

cooperation on various economic issues in order to protect domestic markets, increase FDI and

market share, increase competition and efficiency etc. These are reflected in regional

free/preferential trade agreements, customs unions, currency unions etc. Examples:

MERCOSUR, NAFTA, TPP, EU, ASEAN FTA etc.

Security – Rise of fundamentalism, extremism, and radicalism necessitated regional security

treaties. Examples: CSTO, SCO etc.

Environment & Nature protection – Protection of nature’s elements sometimes fall under the

common responsibility of two or more nations. For example, rivers, endangered animals,

forests, cleaning ocean pollutioin etc. Examples, Mekong-Ganga Cooperation.

Various other reasons include: energy security, cultural, ethnic, religious affinities, military/arms

cooperation, ideological and political groupings, drug trafficking/smuggling etc.Most of these

regional organizations cover multiple aspects in cooperation. For example, GCC is a political and

economic union.

Relevance of International Organizations – In a globalized world, there are several issues which

are common to all the nations. For example, Climate Change, refugee crisis, internet, global

security, international trade and finance. These issues need cooperation of all the nations at

global level. They cannot be solved either in isolation or by regional cooperation.

17. The Indian Diaspora is clustered in both first world and third world(Africa, Latin

America, West Asia etc) but it’s unfortunate that their interests, problems and

potential has not been central to Indian Diplomacy . DO you agree? Substantiate

Historical ties, colonial history and enterprising nature of Indians, have resulted in widespread

distribution on Indian Diaspora all over the globe. In developed west significant Indian origin

population is based in US, UK and Canada. The indentured labours taken by Britishers have their

generations in Latin American nations like Guyana, Suriname, Caribbean islands. Trade and

cultural links result in Indian Diaspora in south eastern nations of Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia,

Indonesia etc. In Nigeria and South Africa, significant Indian Diaspora is present. People,

particularly, from southern states of India migrate to west Asia for blue collar jobs. But, despite

this global distribution, it has been observed that our diplomatic processes put over emphasis

on Diaspora of developed western countries. Some of the factors could be:

A. Diaspora in developed west has resources and capital to invest in India.

B. Many Indian origin people are at helms of the Multinational companies in western

countries.

C. NRI associations of west are more vocal and organized in presenting their concerns and

demands.

But off late India has started to focus on its Diaspora in rest parts of world also:

A. A scheme called MADAD had been launched by government to support blue collar

workers in gulf countries which are under distress.

B. Evacuation of large number of Indian people was done in Yemen during operation

Rahat.

C. Prime minister of India visited Fiji after a gap of 20+ years, UAE after a long time gap.

Signalling intent for increased relationship with Diaspora.

D. Recently, Prime minister has engaged with Indian Diaspora in Sychelles, Mauritius and

other countries of Mainland Africa having significant Indian population.

E. Efforts were made by external ministry to rescue Indian people who were made captive

by Islamic State.

Thus, although our overseas policies have been west centric, there has been a renewed

emphasis on engaging with Indian Diaspora worldwide

18. The situation that exists among nations in their relations to one another is such that

it would be wrong to say that there is no connection between ethics and international

relations. How can ethical consideration help resolve tensions arising in

International Relations? Discuss with specific examples.

Accord and Discord are the hall mark of diplomacy which brings convergence and divergence in

the matrix of International relations. Issues like Responsibility to protect, Global surveillance,

War machines, Migrant issue, Climate justice issue, morality of foreign aid, transformer water

disputes, issues around world trade etc gained much visibility and high frequency in globalised

world.

So to resolve such tensions interalia other principles ethics principles are effective and sustainable.

a. Principle of balancing Rights and Duties- The migration crisis arising in Mediterranean sea, west

Asia and in Andaman sea betrays this imbalance between rights and duties. Even in the case of

Climate justice of reducing emissions and historical responsibilities developed nations need to

balance their duties with rights of developing nations

b. Principle of balancing Realism and Idealism-Nations needs to balance State centric thinking and

a cosmopolitan view. It asks the states to formulate its internal policy in such a way that it can

achieve that goal in international level. If all the government think themselves to be

cosmopolitan while collaborating with each other then conflicts can be minimized. This will also

help in achieving the aims like of curbing environmental pollution and dealing with the

extremism like that of ISIS and Al-Qaeda.

c. Principle of reciprocity” (treat others like the way you want to be treated by others):-nations,

especially powerful nations should not suppress other nations. Recent sanctions on Russia in

wake of her annexation of Ukraine and Crimea are the result of Russia’s non-adherence to the

“principle of reciprocity”.

d. Principle of Liberalism-This is perhaps the most viable approach which rejects the policy of

power politics and is based upon mutual cooperation and benefits. And if conflicts arise, help of

international agencies can be taken.

e. Altruism” at global level:- For example, the act of developed countries to transfer fund and

technology to developing and least developed countries would help in bringing down disparities

and establish the “equitable distribution of benefits”.

f. “Responsibility at global level”:-the governmental and non- governmental international

organizations like UNHCR, UNHRC, Green peace, WWF, etc work on ethical ground of

compassion, respecting right of all people, brotherhood/sisterhood including conservation of

nature, transcending all political and physical boundaries.

The efficacy of ethics in resolving the disputes between nations is doubtless. The need of hour is

to proactively involve in this endeavour.

19. The really tough choices don’t center upon right versus wrong. But to choose less

wrong between two wrongs and better between two rights, makes all the difference.

Comment

Choosing between right and wrong is generally an easy job, for we have a collective and

accepted notion of what is right and what is wrong. we apply these easily available and clearly

understandable standards and yardsticks to distinguish between right and wrong.

When we are in urgent need of some money beyond our earnings, choosing between stealing

and not stealing is such a situation where making a morally correct decision is easy. There is

nothing extraordinary with it, rather a normal moral decision one can take.

But choosing a less wrong between two wrongs and better between two rights is not that easy

always. It depends on one’s ability to comprehend the situation, apprehend the consequences

and apply wisdom to choose better available option.

The ethical dilemma of choosing a less wrong may be justified by the prevailing social and

political practices. For example while killing is unethical, modern societies have capital

punishment in their legal systems for a utilitarian social purpose.

Imagine a rescue boat in a flooded area carrying five people, on way back realizing that another

person still trapped there. In this situation turning the boat risking five lives is not an easy

decision to make. Utilitarianism would justify saving five lives by not turning the boat.

So, there are genuine dilemmas precisely because each side is firmly rooted in one of our basic,

core values. Four such dilemmas are so common to our experience that they may stand as

models, patterns, or paradigms.

a. Truth versus loyalty

b. Individual versus community

c. Short-term versus long-term

d. Justice versus Mercy

Rational decision making using median utility would help face this dilemma of choosing less

wrong and better right.

20. Write a note on the ethics of utilisation of public funds

Ethics of utilisation of public fund emanates from two doctrines

(a Doctrine of Public trust.

(b Doctrine of Appropriateness.

Public trust doctrine lays responsibility on public servants to expend judiciously so that the

public is served and public goals are achieved. It establishes that the money belong to citizen

and is given to public officers due to the trust reposed in them.

Appropriateness doctrine emphasises that the way money is spent should bring equity,

efficiency and economy. Public officers should apply their acumen and wit in spending.

Apart from that our DPSP brings two more ethical concerns in utilisation of Public funds these

are:

(a) To develop an economic system that does not result in concentration of wealth.

(b) To utilise funds in a manner that maximises common good (utilitarianism).