Model Answer

Introduction

In India, women face a disproportionately heavier burden of poverty compared to men due to various systemic issues. Understanding the causes of poverty among women and the measures taken to address it is crucial for promoting gender equality and economic empowerment.

Causes of Poverty Among Women

1. Unpaid Care Work: Women are primarily responsible for unpaid household work, spending approximately five hours daily on caregiving, while men spend only about half an hour. This imbalance leads to time poverty and limits women’s opportunities for paid employment.
2. Low Female Labour Force Participation Rate: Social stigma, violence, and unsafe working conditions deter women from entering the labor market. The Female Labour Force Participation Rate (FLFPR) has declined from 30.3% in 1990 to just 20.5% in 2019.
3. Gender Gaps in Nutrition, Education, and Health: Women, especially in poorer households, face significant disparities in access to nutrition, education, and healthcare, further entrenching their poverty.
4. Low Wages: Women earn 34% less than men for the same work, which discourages them from seeking employment and perpetuates economic dependency.
5. Lack of Decent Work Conditions: A majority of women work in the informal sector, lacking employment contracts, legal rights, and social protections, which keeps them trapped in poverty.

Measures Taken to Address Poverty Among Women

1. Legislative Measures: The government has enacted laws such as the Equal Remuneration Act, 1976, and the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act, 2013, to promote women’s rights and workplace safety.
2. Government Schemes: Initiatives like Beti Bachao Beti Padhao and the One Stop Centre Scheme aim to address gender inequality and empower women.
3. National Mission for Empowerment of Women (NMEW): This mission focuses on the overall development of women through various empowerment processes.
4. Rashtriya Mahila Kosh (RMK): This initiative provides micro-finance services to uplift poor women socio-economically.
5. Support to Training and Employment Program for Women (STEP): This program aims to ensure sustainable employment for marginalized women.
6. Working Women Hostels: These hostels provide safe accommodation for working women, facilitating their employment opportunities.

Roadmap for Answer Writing

1. Introduction (50-75 words)

• Context: Introduce the issue of poverty among women in India and the significance of addressing gender disparities.
• Thesis Statement: State that the answer will explore the causes of poverty among women and the measures taken to mitigate this issue.

2. Causes of Poverty Among Women (100-125 words)

• Unpaid Care Work: Explain how women’s responsibility for unpaid domestic work limits their opportunities for paid employment.
  • Fact: Women spend around five hours daily on unpaid care work, while men spend only half an hour.
• Low Female Labour Force Participation Rate: Discuss the decline in women’s participation in the workforce due to social stigma and unsafe working conditions.
  • Fact: FLFPR decreased from 30.3% in 1990 to 20.5% in 2019.
• Gender Gaps in Nutrition, Education, and Health: Highlight disparities that affect women’s socio-economic status, particularly in poorer households.
• Low Wages: Address the wage gap where women earn 34% less than their male counterparts for the same work.
• Lack of Decent Work Conditions: Mention the prevalence of informal employment and its associated vulnerabilities.

3. Measures Taken to Address Poverty Among Women (100-125 words)

• Legislative Measures: Describe key laws aimed at empowering women.
  • Fact: Equal Remuneration Act, 1976, and the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act, 2013.
• Government Schemes: Outline initiatives aimed at reducing gender inequality.
  • Fact: Programs like Beti Bachao Beti Padhao and One Stop Centre Scheme focus on empowerment.
• National Mission for Empowerment of Women (NMEW): Discuss its role in promoting women’s development.
• Rashtriya Mahila Kosh (RMK): Explain how this micro-finance initiative helps uplift poor women.
• Support to Training and Employment Program for Women (STEP): Mention efforts to ensure sustainable employment for marginalized women.
• Working Women Hostels: Discuss how these hostels facilitate safe accommodation for working women.

4. Conclusion (50-75 words)

• Summary: Recap the causes of poverty among women and the various measures taken to address these issues.
• Call for Action: Emphasize the importance of continued efforts and policies to empower women and reduce poverty effectively.

Model Answer

Introduction

The Indian Ocean Region (IOR), historically significant for its maritime routes and trade, has emerged as a focal point of geopolitical competition among major powers. With over 70% of global container traffic passing through its waters, the IOR plays a critical role in global trade and energy security, making it essential for India to enhance its influence in this strategically vital region.

Strategic Significance of the IOR

The IOR is crucial for India’s external trade, with nearly 80% of its trade and 90% of energy imports traversing these waters. The region’s geopolitical landscape is complex, with major powers like the US, China, and Russia vying for influence, thereby affecting regional stability. Maritime security concerns, particularly piracy and terrorism, further complicate the situation, necessitating a robust response from India.

India’s Foreign Policy Interests in the IOR

India’s foreign policy in the IOR is underpinned by historical ties, cultural links, and the objective of securing its maritime interests. Initiatives such as SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) and the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative aim to enhance regional cooperation. India’s cultural diplomacy, rooted in shared civilizational links, positions it as a natural leader in the region.

Challenges to India’s Influence

However, India’s influence is challenged by China’s expanding presence through its String of Pearls strategy, which includes military bases and strategic port investments. The growing military presence of Western powers further complicates India’s position, while environmental issues, such as climate change, threaten coastal security and stability in island nations.

Measures to Enhance India’s Influence

To address these challenges, India must focus on:

• Expanding Naval Capabilities: Developing a blue-water navy to ensure maritime security.
• Infrastructure Development: Investing in strategic projects like Chabahar Port and Sittwe Port to bolster trade connectivity.
• Strengthening Partnerships: Enhancing defense and economic ties with regional partners through multilateral platforms like BIMSTEC and IORA.
• Cultural Diplomacy: Promoting soft power through cultural exchanges and educational initiatives, thereby deepening ties with IOR nations.

Way Forward

The Indian Ocean Region holds immense strategic significance for India, shaping its foreign policy and regional stability. By enhancing its naval capabilities, investing in infrastructure, and strengthening partnerships, India can solidify its role as a leader in the IOR, fostering a balanced and prosperous maritime order in the face of growing geopolitical competition.

Introduction

The Swiss Challenge Model is a method of public procurement that allows public authorities to receive unsolicited proposals for unique projects involving specialized design, technology, and intellectual property rights. Following the evaluation of these proposals, if they align with public priorities, authorities may invite competing bids from other parties. The original proponent can then revise their proposal in light of the competition, ultimately awarding the contract to the best submission. This approach was endorsed by the Supreme Court in 2009, prompting state governments like Maharashtra and Karnataka to develop their guidelines for its implementation.

Benefits of the Swiss Challenge Model

1. Promotes Competition: By inviting counter-proposals, this model fosters competitive bidding, which can lead to optimal project costs (Source: Supreme Court ruling, 2009).
2. Enhances Efficiency: It streamlines pre-project activities and feasibility studies, saving time and costs compared to other Public-Private Partnership (PPP) models (Source: Expert analyses on PPP).
3. Professionalism: The structured nature of the model means better risk management and project preparation, significantly reducing bureaucratic delays (Source: Procurement guidelines).
4. Encourages Creativity: Competitors can analyze and improve upon the original designs, leading to innovative project execution (Source: Industry reports on design competition).
5. Equitability: It provides a pathway for governments with limited resources to develop projects effectively (Source: Public policy evaluations).

Challenges of the Swiss Challenge Model

1. Transparency Issues: The model can suffer from a lack of transparency, making accountability difficult when dealing with unsolicited proposals.
2. Crony Capitalism Risks: There is potential for favoritism, allowing companies to manipulate processes to win contracts.
3. Bidding Asymmetry: Disparities in preparation time between original proponents and counter-bidders can create unfair advantages.
4. Legal Validity Concerns: The absence of robust regulatory frameworks raises questions about the legality of counter-proposals differing from originals.
5. Valuation Difficulties: Assessing the monetary value of unsolicited proposals can be problematic, particularly when the original proponent is not awarded the contract.

Conclusion

In conclusion, while the Swiss Challenge Model offers significant advantages in enhancing competition and efficiency, addressing its inherent challenges is vital for its successful implementation. A national policy framework could mitigate these issues, fostering innovation and greater fairness in public procurement.

Model Answer

Introduction

The Indian telecom sector has emerged as a pivotal component of the country’s economic growth, boasting over 1.18 billion subscribers. However, despite this remarkable growth, significant challenges persist, particularly in achieving inclusive growth across urban and rural landscapes.

Key Challenges

One of the foremost challenges is the rural-urban divide, with urban teledensity at 131.01% compared to just 58.31% in rural areas. This disparity highlights the insufficient infrastructure and low digital literacy in rural regions.

Moreover, Indian telecom operators grapple with high spectrum costs, which are among the highest globally, leading to substantial debt accumulation—estimated at Rs 4.09 lakh crore. The affordability of 5G smartphones and data plans further exacerbates this issue, limiting access for lower-income users.

The sector also faces cybersecurity risks, with increasing incidents of hacking and data breaches. The presence of untrusted foreign equipment raises national security concerns, while regulatory uncertainty adds to the woes, especially with OTT platforms using telecom networks without contributing to infrastructure costs.

Measures to Address Challenges

To tackle these challenges, the government must focus on enhancing rural connectivity by expanding fiber-optic networks and incentivizing private telecom players to invest in underserved areas.

Rationalizing spectrum pricing through a graded mechanism and introducing long-term payment flexibility can alleviate financial pressures on operators. Strengthening cybersecurity by mandating end-to-end encryption and regular audits will protect sensitive data and enhance trust in telecom services.

Additionally, a fair revenue-sharing mechanism for OTT services can create a balanced ecosystem, ensuring that telecom operators are compensated for infrastructure use. Finally, boosting indigenous manufacturing through expanded PLI schemes will reduce reliance on imports and foster self-reliance.

Way Forward

In conclusion, while the Indian telecom sector stands at a critical juncture, addressing these challenges through strategic reforms and investments is essential for fostering inclusive growth. A robust and equitable telecom infrastructure is crucial for empowering all sections of society and driving India towards becoming a global telecom powerhouse.

Model Answer

1. Institutional Issues

• Licensing Barriers: The requirement for new entrepreneurs to own a shop or godown to obtain a license as commission agents poses a significant entry barrier to existing Agricultural Produce Market Committees (APMCs).
• High Market Charges: APMCs can collect market fees ranging from 0.5% to 2.0% of the sale value. Additional charges, such as purchase tax and weighment charges, can total as high as 15% in some states.
• Lack of Standardized Grading: The absence of a standardized grading mechanism before sale prevents farmers from obtaining prices that reflect the quality of their produce.

2. Infrastructural Issues

• Poor Market Infrastructure: Studies show that only two-thirds of regulated markets have covered auction platforms, and less than one-tenth have cold storage facilities. Grading facilities are available in less than one-third of the markets.
• Economic Viability: Agricultural marketing infrastructure projects often have long gestation periods, and the seasonal nature of agricultural produce affects their economic viability, deterring investments.

3. Market Information System Issues

• Lag in Demand Signals: Inefficient real-time information channels lead to delays in demand signals, causing farmers to rely on outdated price trends.
• Limited Information Channels: Existing information dissemination methods primarily cover major commodities and are often not available in local languages, limiting accessibility for farmers.

Steps Taken to Address These Issues

1. Model APMC Act, 2003

This act aimed to amend existing rules to tackle the aforementioned issues; however, only sixteen states have amended their acts, and only six states have notified the amended rules.

2. Direct Marketing Initiatives

Programs like Apni Mandi in Punjab and Rythu Bazaars in Andhra Pradesh allow farmers to sell directly to consumers, bypassing intermediaries.

3. AGMARKNET

This e-governance portal provides agricultural marketing information to stakeholders, facilitating better decision-making.

4. Gramin Agricultural Markets (GrAMs)

Efforts are underway to upgrade 22,000 rural haats into GrAMs, which will feature improved infrastructure and better road linkages, remaining outside APMC regulations.

5. Kisan Rail

This initiative aims to ensure safe and fast transportation of perishables, aiding in better price realization for farmers.

6. Farmer Produce Organizations (FPOs)

A scheme to create 10,000 FPOs by 2024 provides handholding support, enhancing farmers’ bargaining power in the market.

Conclusion

Improving agricultural marketing infrastructure and systems is crucial for better price realization for farmers. The steps taken by the government aim to address the existing challenges, promoting competitive trade and enhancing the efficiency of the agricultural marketing process.