Daily Answer Writing

Model Answer

India’s administrative structure consists of over 40 ministries and departments, each headed by a minister. While this structure is designed for administrative convenience, there are strong arguments for streamlining the number of ministries to enhance efficiency.

Arguments in Favor of Streamlining Ministries

1. Improved Efficiency and Accountability
A large number of ministries often leads to overlapping responsibilities and unclear accountability. For instance, the tussle between the Ministry of Civil Aviation and the Ministry of Home Affairs over drone regulations exemplifies the inefficiencies caused by multiple ministries with similar jurisdiction. By consolidating ministries, decision-making can be expedited, ensuring more efficient policy implementation (Source: Government of India Allocation of Business Rules 1961).

2. Better Resource Allocation

With over 40 ministries, the allocation of resources often becomes stretched thin. A significant portion of the budget is spent on salaries and pensions, leaving fewer funds for actual developmental work. Streamlining ministries could ensure better utilization of financial resources by reducing redundancies and administrative overheads.

3. Reduced Overlaps with the Private Sector

Government ministries often compete with the private sector, crowding out private businesses. For instance, the operations of BSNL and LIC, while being governmental, compete with private telecom and insurance companies. Streamlining could help minimize such conflicts, allowing the private sector to thrive without unnecessary government interference (Source: Government of India).

Arguments Against Streamlining Ministries

1. Administrative Convenience and Specialized Functions

Ministries are created to facilitate specialized functions. For example, the Ministry of Consumer Affairs ensures the proper implementation of laws like the National Food Security Act, and the Ministry of Social Justice focuses on marginalized communities. Streamlining could result in a loss of focus on crucial areas, hindering development (Source: Government of India Allocation of Business Rules 1961).

2. Regional Development

Certain ministries are dedicated to the development of specific regions, such as the Ministry of Development of the North Eastern Region. Streamlining could dilute regional efforts, affecting targeted policy outcomes.

Conclusion

While streamlining ministries can lead to better efficiency and resource allocation, it must be approached carefully. Consolidating ministries like those related to transport or energy could yield benefits, but specialized and regional ministries should remain to ensure targeted development and governance.

Model Answer

Tribunals are judicial or quasi-judicial bodies established by law to resolve specific types of disputes, often involving specialized knowledge or expertise. Their main purpose is to ease the burden on regular courts by offering faster adjudication of cases, especially in complex or technical matters. Tribunals were not initially part of the Indian Constitution but were introduced through the 42nd Amendment (1976), which added Articles 323A and 323B to empower the creation of tribunals.

The Administrative Tribunals Act of 1985 allowed for the establishment of the Central Administrative Tribunal and State Administrative Tribunals to handle matters related to public services, with provisions for joint tribunals in certain states.

Differences Between Article 323A and Article 323B

1. Scope and Functionality

• Article 323A focuses on the establishment of tribunals specifically for public service matters (e.g., disputes related to government employees, promotions, disciplinary matters).
• Article 323B covers a broader range of subjects, including taxation, land reforms, rent control, and foreign exchange. It enables tribunals to be formed for various other technical and specialized matters.

2. Authority to Establish Tribunals

• Article 323A allows only the Parliament to establish tribunals related to public service matters.
• Article 323B grants both Parliament and State Legislatures the power to create tribunals for matters falling within their respective jurisdictions.

3. Hierarchy of Tribunals

• Article 323A provides for a single tribunal for the entire country (e.g., Central Administrative Tribunal) or for each state. There is no provision for creating a hierarchy of tribunals.
• Article 323B allows the creation of a hierarchy of tribunals, meaning multiple levels of tribunals may be established for more complex or large-scale issues.

Judicial Remedies Against Tribunal Decisions

Originally, decisions from these tribunals could only be appealed to the Supreme Court. However, in the landmark Chandra Kumar case (1997), the Supreme Court ruled that provisions excluding the jurisdiction of High Courts were unconstitutional, thus restoring the High Court’s role in adjudicating appeals from tribunals.

Conclusion

Tribunals serve as a crucial mechanism to decongest the judiciary, and the distinction between Articles 323A and 323B allows for specialized tribunals to address different types of disputes effectively.

Model Answer

Glaciers, slow-moving masses of ice formed by the compaction and recrystallization of snow, shape the landscape through erosion and deposition. Here is a concise overview of the landforms they create.

Erosional Landforms

1. Glacial Valleys/Troughs
   • U-shaped valleys with broad, flat floors and steep sides.
   • Formed by the erosive action of glaciers.
2. Cirques
   • Bowl-shaped depressions at the heads of glacial valleys.
   • Often house lakes called tarns, created from accumulated meltwater.
3. Horns
   • Sharp, pyramidal peaks formed by erosion from multiple cirques.
   • Examples include Matterhorn (Alps) and Everest (Himalayas).
4. Aretes
   • Knife-edged ridges separating two adjacent glacial valleys or cirques.
5. Valley Steps
   • Abrupt changes in the longitudinal slope of a glacial valley.
6. Bergschrunds
   • Crevasses at the glacier’s headwall, often visible in summer.

Depositional Landforms

1. Till Deposits
   • Unsorted debris, ranging from fine particles to angular rock fragments, left by melting glaciers.
2. Outwash Plains
   • Deposits of smaller debris carried by glacial meltwater streams, forming flat plains.
3. Moraines
   • Ridges of glacial till, categorized into terminal, lateral, medial, and ground moraines.
4. Eskers
   • Sinuous ridges formed by meltwater streams beneath glaciers, depositing coarse materials.
5. Drumlins
   • Smooth, oval-shaped ridges made of glacial till and occasionally gravel or sand.

These landforms illustrate the transformative power of glaciers in sculpting landscapes through their slow yet dynamic movements. Facts sourced from provided content.

मॉडल उत्तर

हिमनदों द्वारा उत्पन्न अपरदित भू-आकृतियाँ

1. हिमनद घाटियाँ/गर्तें (Glacial Valleys/Troughs)
   • हिमनद घाटियाँ U-आकार में होती हैं, जिनके तल चौड़े और किनारे चिकने होते हैं। इनकी ढाल तीव्र होती है, और ये अधिकतर हिमनदों के प्रवाह से बनती हैं।
2. सर्क (Cirque)
   • ये हिमनद घाटियों के शीर्ष पर स्थित कटोरे के आकार के गर्त होते हैं। ये क्षेत्र जहां सबसे पहले हिम एकत्रित होती है, और बर्फ में रूपांतरित होती है। यहां पाई जाने वाली झीलों को टार्न झील कहते हैं।
3. हॉर्न (Horn)
   • जब कई सर्क एक पर्वत को तीन या अधिक दिशाओं से काटते हैं, तो पिरामिडनुमा चोटियाँ बनती हैं, जिन्हें हॉर्न कहा जाता है। उदाहरण स्वरूप, मैटरहॉर्न और एवरेस्ट।
4. अरेत (Arete)
   • दो हिमनदों के बीच स्थित नुकीली भूमि होती है, जिसे अरेत कहते हैं। यह पहाड़ी श्रृंखलाओं में स्थित होती है।
5. सोपानी घाटी (Valley step)
   • हिमनद घाटी में अनुदैर्ध्य ढलान में अचानक परिवर्तन से यह संरचना बनती है।
6. बर्गश्रुण्ड (Bergschrund)
   • हिमनद की शीर्ष-भित्ति में चौड़ी दरार बनने पर बर्फ के तंतुओं से यह संरचना बनती है। यह ग्रीष्म ऋतु में अधिक स्पष्ट होती है।

हिमनदों द्वारा उत्पन्न निक्षेपित भू-आकृतियाँ

1. गोलाश्म निक्षेप (Till deposits)
   • पिघलते हुए हिमनदों द्वारा भारी और महीन पदार्थों का मिश्रण गोलाश्म निक्षेप के रूप में निक्षेपित होता है।
2. हिमानी धौत मैदान (Outwash plains)
   • बर्फ के पिघलने से हिमनद के किनारों पर जलधाराएँ बनती हैं, जो शैल और मलबे को लेकर मैदानों में निक्षेपित होती हैं।
3. हिमोढ़ (Moraine)
   • यह हिमनद टिल के जमाव से बनी लंबी कटकें होती हैं। इन्हें अंतस्थ, पार्श्विक, तलस्थ, और मध्यस्थ हिमोढ़ के रूप में वर्गीकृत किया जाता है।
4. एस्कर (Esker)
   • यह वक्राकार कटक होती है, जो हिमनद के पिघलने के बाद बनती है। इसमें बड़े गोलाश्म और चट्टानी मलबे जमा होते हैं।
5. ड्रमलिन (Drumlin)
   • ड्रमलिन अंडाकार और समतल कटकनुमा संरचनाएँ होती हैं, जो रेत और बजरी से मिलकर बनती हैं।

ये सभी भू-आकृतियाँ हिमनदों द्वारा अपरदन और निक्षेपण की प्रक्रियाओं के माध्यम से उत्पन्न होती हैं और इनकी विशेषताएँ उनके द्वारा किए गए भौतिक परिवर्तन की ओर इशारा करती हैं।

Model Answer

Manufacturing industries in India are influenced by several critical factors, which determine their location:

• Raw Material: Industries that use weight-losing raw materials, such as steel and iron, are typically located near the source of these materials, like coalfields (e.g., Bokaro, Durgapur) and iron ore deposits (e.g., Bhadravati, Bhilai).
• Market: Proximity to large consumer markets is crucial for industries like heavy machinery and chemicals. Cities like Mumbai, Surat, and Ahmedabad host cotton textile industries, while petroleum refineries are located near coastal areas for easy access to ports.
• Specialized Labor: Availability of skilled labor in urban centers supports industries requiring such expertise, fostering the growth of sectors like electronics, pharmaceuticals, and engineering.
• Power: Energy is essential for industries like cement, iron and steel, and semiconductors. Proximity to reliable power sources influences industrial placement.
• Transport: With the expansion of railway lines and highways, industries have shifted from metro cities to interior regions for better accessibility.
• Government Policies: Initiatives like Special Economic Zones (SEZs) and Mega Food Processing Parks attract industries to specific regions through incentives and support.
• Historical Factors: Colonial-era industries and European trade routes have influenced the early industrial development in certain areas.

Key Industrial Regions in India

• Mumbai-Pune Region: Known for textiles, petroleum, pharmaceuticals, and electronics, among others.
• Hugli Region: Famous for jute, paper, and petrochemical industries.
• Bengaluru-Tamil Nadu Region: Key industries include textiles, rail wagons, engineering goods, and pharmaceuticals.
• Gujarat Region: A hub for cotton textiles, petrochemicals, and chemicals, with easy access to ports.
• Chotanagpur Region: Located near coal and iron ore reserves, it hosts heavy industries like steel, cement, and power.
• Vishakhapatnam-Guntur Region: Known for shipbuilding, petroleum refining, and light engineering industries.
• Gurugram-Delhi-Meerut Region: Focuses on light, market-oriented industries like electronics, textiles, and machine tools.
• Kollam-Thiruvananthapuram Region: Relies on agriculture and hydropower, with industries such as textiles, sugar, and rubber.

These factors and regions demonstrate how economic, geographical, and policy-driven elements shape the distribution and growth of manufacturing industries in India.