BPSC Mains PYQs

Introduction

Economic planning has been essential in guiding India’s growth since independence. However, with the 1991 economic reforms, India shifted from a centrally planned economy to a more market-driven one. Despite this, economic planning remains relevant in providing direction for sustainable and inclusive growth.

Relevance of Economic Planning in the Post-Reform Era

• Guiding Policy in Key Sectors: Planning helps prioritize critical sectors like infrastructure, education, and healthcare, ensuring balanced growth across regions.
• Reducing Inequality: While market reforms have spurred growth, they also widened inequalities. Planned interventions focus on inclusive growth, addressing social and regional disparities.
• Sustainability: Economic planning supports long-term sustainability by promoting renewable energy, pollution control, and resource management.

Synergetic Role of State and Market

1. State as Regulator and Facilitator

• Regulation for Fair Competition: The state regulates to prevent monopolies, ensuring fair competition and protecting consumer interests.
• Infrastructure and Public Goods: The government can invest in infrastructure, which boosts the market by lowering costs and supporting new businesses.

2. Market as an Innovator and Growth Driver

• Investment and Efficiency: The private sector drives innovation and efficiency, often delivering services at lower costs.
• Employment and Skill Development: By creating job opportunities, the market enhances human capital and aligns with government efforts on skill development.

3. State-Market Partnership for Development

• Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs): Collaborations in sectors like transportation, education, and healthcare maximize resources and expertise from both sectors.
• Illustration: In India, PPPs have been successful in building highways, with the government providing initial support and private companies managing operations.

Conclusion

In the post-reform era, economic planning remains relevant to steer growth, manage inequalities, and ensure sustainability. A synergistic role where the state creates a supportive framework and the market drives efficiency can help India achieve balanced and inclusive economic development.

Introduction

E-Governance refers to the use of digital technologies by the government to provide services, improve transparency, and ensure efficient communication with citizens. It aims to make government processes simpler, faster, and more accessible to the public.

Benefits of E-Governance

• Efficiency: Reduces paperwork, speeds up services, and minimizes corruption.
• Transparency: Digital records are easier to track and review.
• Accessibility: Allows citizens to access services anytime, from anywhere.

E-Governance in Bihar

1. Progress Made

• Digital Initiatives: Bihar has implemented various e-governance programs, such as online portals for land records (Bihar Bhumi) and digital payment options for government services.
• RTPS Portal: The Right to Public Service (RTPS) portal allows citizens to apply for essential services like birth and income certificates online, ensuring timely delivery.

2. Challenges Faced

• Infrastructure Gaps: Limited internet connectivity in rural areas and inadequate digital infrastructure can hinder access to e-services.
• Digital Literacy: Low awareness and digital literacy, especially in rural areas, create barriers for widespread adoption of e-governance.

3. Steps Forward

• The government is working to improve internet access and train citizens in digital skills to broaden e-governance usage.

Conclusion

E-Governance in Bihar is growing, with successful initiatives in place. However, bridging infrastructure and digital literacy gaps will be crucial for maximizing its impact and ensuring equal access for all citizens.

Introduction

The Indian Parliament is the supreme legislative body in India, responsible for making laws. However, unlike parliaments in countries like the United Kingdom, the Indian Parliament is considered non-sovereign due to various legal and constitutional limitations.

Reasons for Limited Sovereignty

1. Constitutional Supremacy

• The Indian Parliament operates within the bounds of the Constitution, which is the supreme legal document in India. Parliament cannot override or change the Constitution beyond the amendment powers provided in Article 368.
• Illustration: Parliament attempted to curtail Fundamental Rights during the Emergency (1975-1977), but the Supreme Court ruled that Parliament cannot alter the “basic structure” of the Constitution.

2. Judicial Review

• The judiciary in India has the power to review laws passed by Parliament to ensure they align with the Constitution. If a law is deemed unconstitutional, the Supreme Court or High Courts can strike it down.
• Illustration: In cases like Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala (1973), the judiciary limited Parliament’s powers by establishing the basic structure doctrine.

3. Federal Limitations

• India’s federal structure restricts Parliament from legislating on matters reserved for state legislatures unless certain conditions are met.
• Illustration: Subjects in the State List (e.g., police, health) are primarily under state jurisdiction, and Parliament can only legislate on these in special circumstances (like during a national emergency).

Conclusion

The Indian Parliament’s law-making powers are constrained by constitutional, judicial, and federal limitations, making it a non-sovereign body. This framework ensures a balance of power, preventing arbitrary legislative actions and protecting citizens’ rights.

The COVID-19 lockdown in India, beginning in March 2020, led to a significant pause in daily life. This measure, while essential for public health, resulted in both socio-economic disruptions and notable ecological changes. Below, we explore the positive and negative impacts across these areas, with real-life examples from India.

 Socio-Economic Implications

A. Economic Disruptions

• Job Losses: India’s informal sector, which constitutes about 90% of the workforce, was severely affected. Millions of daily wage workers lost their jobs, with limited access to social safety nets.
• Migration Crisis: With work halted, a mass migration of laborers from urban to rural areas ensued. For instance, thousands of migrant workers were seen walking or cycling back to their villages, with limited access to transportation.
• Impact on Industries: Key industries such as manufacturing, retail, and tourism faced heavy losses. India’s GDP contracted by approximately 23.9% in the second quarter of 2020, reflecting this economic strain.

B. Social Challenges

• Education Disruptions: The lockdown led to the closure of schools, affecting millions of students. Online education emerged as an alternative but created a digital divide, as many students, especially in rural areas, lacked internet access.
• Mental Health Issues: The lockdown led to a rise in stress, anxiety, and depression due to isolation, job losses, and financial insecurity. For instance, a study found that anxiety levels increased significantly among urban dwellers during this period.

Ecological Implications

A. Positive Environmental Impact

• Improvement in Air Quality: With reduced vehicular and industrial activity, air quality levels saw a significant improvement. Cities like Delhi experienced up to a 60% reduction in nitrogen dioxide levels during the lockdown.
• Water Quality Improvements: The Ganga and Yamuna rivers showed improvements in water quality as industrial effluents decreased. This short-term recovery offered insights into the positive impacts of reduced human intervention.

B. Negative Environmental Impact

• Waste Management Challenges: With an increase in medical and household waste, including masks and sanitizer bottles, waste management systems were overwhelmed, leading to improper disposal in some areas.
• Increased Wildlife Disturbance: Although reduced human activity allowed some animals to venture into urban areas, the sudden presence of wildlife in human spaces also led to increased conflicts and challenges in wildlife management.