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Discuss the mandate of the Special Frontier Force. What have been its achievements in ensuring the security of India?
The Special Frontier Force (SFF) was raised by the Intelligence Bureau after the 1962 China-India war. This covert paramilitary unit primarily recruited Tibetan exiles, but currently it consists of a mixture of Tibetans and Gorkhas. The SFF is controlled by India's external intelligence agency, theRead more
The Special Frontier Force (SFF) was raised by the Intelligence Bureau after the 1962 China-India war. This covert paramilitary unit primarily recruited Tibetan exiles, but currently it consists of a mixture of Tibetans and Gorkhas. The SFF is controlled by India’s external intelligence agency, the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW). Though it is headed by an Inspector General who is an Army officer, it reports directly to the Cabinet Secretariat under the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).
Mandate of SFF
The SFF’s original mandate was to infiltrate as guerrillas and conduct covert operations in Tibet. It aims to destroy Chinese strategic infrastructure; and create insurgency and rebellion in Tibet, which would in turn help the Indian Army in engaging the Chinese at the border. Over time its role has evolved and it has been used in a variety of roles such as counter-insurgency operations, infiltrating enemy lines, camouflage, and tactical and special operations.
Achievements of SFF
The SFF has a glorious history of protecting the nation from internal and external security threats by making supreme sacrifices. Their impact is not only limited to the tactical domain but also to strategic domains, particularly in the context of relations with China.
See lessIntroduced with much hope, land reforms measures in India after independence failed to make much difference. Critically comment.
At the time of independence, India inherited a semi-feudal agrarian structure. The farmers did not have ownership of land and ownership was concentrated in the hands of few landlords and intermediaries. Additionally, the land was fragmented. This resulted in minuscule income for farmers and reducedRead more
At the time of independence, India inherited a semi-feudal agrarian structure. The farmers did not have ownership of land and ownership was concentrated in the hands of few landlords and intermediaries. Additionally, the land was fragmented. This resulted in minuscule income for farmers and reduced the scope for further investment in agriculture. To overcome these structural challenges, land reforms were introduced post-independence.
They had the following components:
Land reforms were significant steps as they abolished the exploitative land tenure systems, distributed the surplus land among the landless and the weaker sections of the society, provided security of tenure, etc. Though the above reforms were steps in the right direction, they were not able to create much difference due to the following:
Thus, the pressure on land continues to rise. According to the latest Agriculture Census, the average holding has come down to 1.08 hectares (2015-16) from 2.28 hectares (1970-71). This has forced the farmers to take up alternative occupations, such as wage labour and animal husbandry. There continue to remain many structural challenges even after the reforms, thus, remedial measures should be taken in this regard.
See lessPost World War I, the Treaty of Versailles sowed the seeds for another, even greater war. Discuss.
In World War I, Allied powers defeated Central powers and as a result the Treaty of Versailles of 1919 was concluded. Though termed as a peace treaty, its provisions were considered unfair and humiliating for Germany. It laid down the foundations of an even greater war i.e. World War II due to folloRead more
In World War I, Allied powers defeated Central powers and as a result the Treaty of Versailles of 1919 was concluded. Though termed as a peace treaty, its provisions were considered unfair and humiliating for Germany. It laid down the foundations of an even greater war i.e. World War II due to following provisions:
Thus, the provisions of the Treaty were extremely harsh on Germany. It shattered Germany politically, economically and militarily. The German populace and the leaders blamed reparations for their economic ills, which were exacerbated by the Great Depression of 1929. Ultimately, it destabilised the Weimar Republic of Germany. Further, due to lasting resentment against the Versailles Treaty, the Nazi Party and other radical political outfits were able to gain support in the 1920s and early 1930s by promising to overturn its harsh provisions and make Germany a major European power. Eventually, Adolf Hitler came to power and denounced the Treaty of Versailles. Germany stopped paying war reparations, armed itself at a rapid pace, drifted towards extreme nationalism and began an expansionist foreign policy. Thus, peace and order established by the Treaty of Versailles was short-lived and prepared a strong ground for World War II. However, apart from the Treaty of Versailles, various other major factors played a significant role in triggering World War II. Failure of the League of Nations, appeasement policy of Britain and France towards Germany despite its aggressive foreign policy, non-aggression pact between USSR and Germany, rise of fascism in Italy and Japan etc. cumulatively led to the outbreak of World War II.
See lessIn the context of the socio-cultural milieu of the 19th century, the contribution made by Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar in the field of education and women's rights is immeasurable. Discuss
In the early and middle 19th century, the state of women's education and rights in India was in an abysmal state. It lagged significantly despite the emergence of the Bengal Renaissance and the establishment of universities in the major cities. It was primarily because the society was mired in prejuRead more
In the early and middle 19th century, the state of women’s education and rights in India was in an abysmal state. It lagged significantly despite the emergence of the Bengal Renaissance and the establishment of universities in the major cities. It was primarily because the society was mired in prejudices and superstitions. However, by the middle of the nineteenth century, liberal Indian minds imbued with Western thoughts and values started realizing the existing deficiency in this regard. Among the many social reformers of the era, Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar was the flag bearer of education and women’s rights. He was a keen advocate of education for women and viewed education as the primary way for women to emancipate themselves from all forms of social oppression they had to face at the time.
His contributions to the field of education include:
His contributions to women’s rights are:
Due to his contribution towards social reform, he is Renaissance. considered one of the main pillars of Bengal
See lessGiving a brief overview of the three Carnatic Wars, discuss the factors that led to the success of the British against the French in the struggle for control over India.
The Carnatic Wars were a series of military conflicts in the middle of the 18th century (1746- 1763) between the French East India Company and the British East India Company. The British conquest in these wars ultimately established their dominance over other European nations in India. The First CarRead more
The Carnatic Wars were a series of military conflicts in the middle of the 18th century (1746- 1763) between the French East India Company and the British East India Company. The British conquest in these wars ultimately established their dominance over other European nations in India.
The reasons behind the success of the British and the failure of the French in India include:
Thus, the French spent resources in India for about 40 years but were not able to realize a French empire in India while the British succeeded in doing so.
See lessDiscuss the ethical issues involved in the spending of public money by the government on advertisements? What measures would you suggest to address these issues?
The government expenditure on advertisements has been an issue of much interest, discussion and debate in India in the recent past. Following are some of the ethical issues involved in government's spending of public money on advertisements: Fulfilling personal or political interests: AdvertisementsRead more
The government expenditure on advertisements has been an issue of much interest, discussion and debate in India in the recent past.
Following are some of the ethical issues involved in government’s spending of public money on advertisements:
It is necessary to curtail these ethical issues while spending public money on advertisements and in this regard, following measures can be taken:
In light of these measures, governments can ensure that their advertisements serve the larger public interests, foster transparency and accountability, and maintain trust with the public.
See lessDiscuss why the Industrial Revolution first started in England and highlight its impacts.
Answer: The Industrial Revolution (IR) was a period of major industrialization and innovation that started around the 1760s in England. It resulted in the transition from small cottage industries in which goods were primarily made by hand to new mass-produced goods in factories. Textiles were the doRead more
Answer: The Industrial Revolution (IR) was a period of major industrialization and innovation that started around the 1760s in England. It resulted in the transition from small cottage industries in which goods were primarily made by hand to new mass-produced goods in factories. Textiles were the dominant industry of the Industrial Revolution in terms of employment, the value of output, and the capital invested. The events in England before 1750 set such conditions, which were favourable for the Industrial Revolution. Factors responsible for the start of the IR in England are:
The above factors helped England become the first industrialized country, and at the same time, the Industrial Revolution caused an everlasting impact on society and living standards of people. This can be discerned from the following:
Though the IR first started in England, its impact was not limited to it. Various other Western European nations became industrialized during the early 19th century. This led to the rise of Imperialism and competition for control of colonies and markets across the globe.
See lessProvide an account of the evolution of the Home Rule movement in India along with its contributions.
Answer: The Home Rule Movement was started on the lines of the Irish Home Rule League by the All India Home Rule League to obtain the status of a Dominion within the British Empire as enjoyed by Australia, Canada, South Africa and New Zealand. It was the Indian response to the First World War in a lRead more
Answer: The Home Rule Movement was started on the lines of the Irish Home Rule League by the All India Home Rule League to obtain the status of a Dominion within the British Empire as enjoyed by Australia, Canada, South Africa and New Zealand. It was the Indian response to the First World War in a less charged but more effective way. Evolution of the Home Rule movement:
Contributions of the Home Rule movement:
The Home Rule Leagues and the associated activities had some positive effects and contributed to the freedom struggle in the coming years.
See lessGive a brief account of the contributions of social reformers in eradicating the social evils prevalentin 19th century India.
Answer: The conquest of India by the British during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, exposed some serious weaknesses and drawbacks of Indian social institutions. As a consequence, several individuals and movements sought to bring about changes in the social and religious practices in order tRead more
Answer: The conquest of India by the British during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, exposed some serious weaknesses and drawbacks of Indian social institutions. As a consequence, several individuals and movements sought to bring about changes in the social and religious practices in order to reform and revitalise the society. Accordingly, the 19th century witnessed a series of reform movements in various parts of the country by social reformers, which were oriented towards a re-structuring of the Indian society along modern lines, including:
Thus, what brought about the urge for reform was the need to rejuvenate the society and its institutions in the wake of colonial conquest. This aspect of the reform movement, however, introduced an element of revivalism, a tendency to harp on the Indian past and to defend Indian culture and civilization. However, despite the fact that some of these movements imparted a conservative and retrogressive character, they played an important role in awakening cultural consciousness and boosting the confidence of the people.
See lessGiving a brief account of the Non-Aligned Movement, examine its relevance in the present times.
Answer: The Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) was formed at the 1st Belgrade Conference of 1961 with its prominent leaders being Jawaharlal Nehru (India), Josip Broz Tito (Yugoslavia) and Gamal Abdel Nassar (Egypt). Originating with a participation of 25 members, it has become the biggest independent and iRead more
Answer: The Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) was formed at the 1st Belgrade Conference of 1961 with its prominent leaders being Jawaharlal Nehru (India), Josip Broz Tito (Yugoslavia) and Gamal Abdel Nassar (Egypt). Originating with a participation of 25 members, it has become the biggest independent and informal association out of the United Nations, comprising 120 member nations and 17 observers. About the Non-Aligned Movement:
In present times, the NAM is relevant in the following ways:
Despite its relevance, the NAM faces many challenges like poor cooperation between the member states, being merely a forum for talk shop, lack of initiatives on emerging security concerns such as global terrorism etc. Therefore, there is an urgent need to strengthen the NAM and the member countries need to reaffirm their commitment to it, so that the NAM can play a prominent and leading role in the current international scenario.
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