Daily Answer Writing

Model Answer

Role of the Press in the Early Phase of the Indian National Movement

The press played a pivotal role in the formative years of the Indian national movement, acting as a critical tool for political education, mass mobilization, and resistance against colonial rule.

1. Political Propaganda and Education

• The Indian National Congress, in its initial years, lacked an organizational structure and relied heavily on the press for spreading its political ideas and nationalist ideology.
• Newspapers like Amrit Bazar Patrika and Kesari carried articles exposing colonial exploitation and encouraged nationalist sentiment.

Fact: The press was instrumental in spreading modern civil liberties, inspired by the French Revolution, as early as Raja Rammohan Roy’s protest against press restrictions in 1824.

2. Preparing the Masses

• During 1870-1918, when the movement was not mass-based, the press became the primary instrument for arousing and consolidating nationalist public opinion.
• It trained Indians to critique colonial policies and united people under a common cause.

Fact: The motto of the press—“oppose, oppose, oppose”—exemplified its dedication to resisting colonial rule.

3. Enhancing Geographical Reach

• The press carried messages from national leaders to remote areas, transcending urban boundaries and creating awareness even in rural regions.
• Library movements, inspired by press publications, spread across India, fostering a collective nationalist consciousness.

Fact: Newspapers like Kesari (by Bal Gangadhar Tilak) reached the grassroots, educating people about their rights and duties.

Challenges Faced by the Indian Press

1. Stringent Sedition Laws

• Laws like Section 124A of IPC penalized criticism of the government with life imprisonment.
• Leaders like Tilak faced multiple sedition charges for writings critical of British policies.

Fact: Bal Gangadhar Tilak was imprisoned twice under sedition charges for his editorials in Kesari.

2. The Vernacular Press Act, 1878

• Targeted non-English newspapers to suppress anti-colonial voices, particularly after the Bengal famine.
• It allowed the confiscation of press equipment and heavy fines.

Fact: Amrit Bazar Patrika converted into an English publication overnight to escape this Act’s provisions.

3. Other Draconian Laws

• Acts like the Prevention of Seditious Meetings Act (1911) and Press Act (1910) imposed hefty penalties and prosecuted over 1,000 newspapers.
• These laws enriched the British treasury through securities and forfeitures.

Fact: The Press Act of 1910 alone collected Rs. 5 lakhs in securities and fines.

Conclusion

Despite severe challenges, the Indian press remained a resilient force in promoting nationalism, opposing colonial rule, and educating the masses. Its sacrifices laid the foundation for the recognition of press freedom as a fundamental right in independent India.

मॉडल उत्तर

भ्रष्टाचार और लोकतंत्र के लिए उसकी चुनौती

भ्रष्टाचार लोकतंत्र के लिए एक गंभीर समस्या है, जो समाज और अर्थव्यवस्था के विभिन्न पहलुओं को प्रभावित करता है। यह एक बहुआयामी परिघटना है, जिसमें सौंपी गई शक्ति का निजी लाभ के लिए दुरुपयोग, रिश्वतखोरी, धोखाधड़ी, भाई-भतीजावाद आदि शामिल हैं।

भ्रष्टाचार की लोकतंत्र पर चुनौती

भ्रष्टाचार लोकतांत्रिक शासन के लिए कई दृष्टिकोणों से चुनौती प्रस्तुत करता है:

1. आर्थिक और सामाजिक संरचना को नुकसान: भ्रष्टाचार निर्धनता और असमानता को बढ़ावा देता है और सार्वजनिक और निजी क्षेत्र की कार्यप्रणाली को निष्क्रिय कर देता है।
2. बेईमानी और अवैध गतिविधियों का जन्म: भ्रष्टाचार, अवैध गतिविधियों के लिए एक उपजाऊ भूमि प्रदान करता है, जिससे देश की क्षमता कमजोर होती है और लोक प्रशासन की दक्षता प्रभावित होती है।
3. राजनीतिक अस्थिरता: भ्रष्टाचार राजनीतिक अस्थिरता और नागरिकों के बीच राजनीतिक अराजकता का कारण बन सकता है, जिससे लोकतंत्र की स्थिरता खतरे में पड़ती है।

नागरिकों की धारणा और प्रभाव

नागरिक भ्रष्टाचार की गंभीरता और प्रसार का अनुमान विभिन्न तरीकों से लगाते हैं। वे सार्वजनिक संगठनों, सरकारी संस्थाओं और नेताओं की विश्वसनीयता को देखते हैं, और इस आधार पर अपने दृष्टिकोण और व्यवहार का निर्धारण करते हैं। जब नागरिक यह महसूस करते हैं कि भ्रष्टाचार व्यापक स्तर पर फैला हुआ है और दोषी लोगों को जवाबदेह नहीं ठहराया जा रहा है, तो उनका सरकार और समाज के प्रति विश्वास कम हो जाता है।

नागरिकों की धारणा के प्रभाव

• जब सरकार पर विश्वास कमजोर होता है, तो लोग यह मानने लगते हैं कि भ्रष्टाचार पर नियंत्रण संभव नहीं है।
• लोग नेताओं, सामाजिक संस्थाओं और सरकारी संस्थाओं पर विश्वास खो देते हैं।
• जब राजनीतिक जवाबदेही की कमी होती है, तो लोग भ्रष्टाचार के खिलाफ अपनी भागीदारी को भी न्यूनतम कर देते हैं।

भ्रष्टाचार से निपटने के उपाय

भ्रष्टाचार से प्रभावी ढंग से निपटने के लिए, नागरिकों की धारणा को सुधारने और भागीदारी को बढ़ावा देने की आवश्यकता है। इसके लिए पारदर्शिता, जवाबदेही, स्वतंत्र मीडिया, उच्च स्तर की शिक्षा और नागरिकों की सक्रिय भागीदारी महत्वपूर्ण हैं।

Model Answer

Reasons Behind Untapped Wind Energy Potential in India

India has a significant wind energy potential, with estimates suggesting up to 302 GW at a hub height of 100 meters, and 174 GW from offshore resources. However, this potential remains largely untapped due to several factors:

1. Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic: The pandemic caused delays in project timelines, along with disruptions in supply chains, which slowed wind energy installations.
   • Source: National Institute of Wind Energy (NIWE) and industry reports.
2. Concentration of Resources: The high wind potential is largely concentrated in specific regions, primarily Gujarat and Tamil Nadu, leading to inflated land prices that make projects more expensive.
3. Cost Gap Between Wind and Solar: The falling cost of solar power has created a wider price disparity between wind and solar, resulting in delayed power supply agreements for wind projects.
4. Land Acquisition Delays: Wind projects require large tracts of land, often facing resistance from local communities, further delaying progress.
5. Offshore Wind Financing: Offshore wind projects are significantly more expensive, making them harder to finance compared to onshore projects.
   • Source: Standing Committee on Energy report.

Suggested Solutions

1. Enhanced Coordination: Strengthen collaboration between central and state governments to streamline project approvals, grid balancing, and land acquisition processes.
2. Technological Innovation: Develop technology exchange programs and improve the alignment of domestic manufacturing with global supply chains to reduce costs.
3. Overcoming Legacy Challenges: Address issues like DISCOM payments, grid infrastructure, and inconsistent state land policies.
4. Offshore Wind Development: Implement the 37 GW offshore wind target, focusing on regions like Gujarat and Tamil Nadu, with dedicated roadmaps for growth.

By tackling these challenges, India can unlock its vast wind energy potential and play a crucial role in its transition to a low-carbon economy.

Model Answer

Geomorphic processes shape the Earth’s surface through both internal and external forces. These processes are categorized as endogenic and exogenic, each with distinct characteristics.

Endogenic Processes

Location and Driving Forces

Endogenic processes occur within the Earth’s crust. They are driven by internal energy sources such as radioactivity, primordial heat, and tidal friction (Source: Geomorphology Texts).

Effects and Nature

These processes are primarily constructive, creating new landforms like mountains and volcanic islands through mechanisms such as diastrophism and volcanism. For example, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions exemplify endogenic activity, leading to significant geological changes (Source: Geoscience Literature).

Exogenic Processes

Location and Driving Forces

In contrast, exogenic processes take place on the Earth’s surface and are powered by external forces, particularly solar energy and atmospheric conditions (Source: Earth Science Resources).

Effects and Nature
Exogenic processes, including weathering, erosion, and mass wasting, are generally destructive. They break down and transport materials, reshaping landscapes through natural forces like wind, water, and ice (Source: Environmental Geology Studies).

Importance of Weathering

Weathering is a critical exogenic process involving the breakdown of rocks due to atmospheric and climatic conditions. It prepares materials for erosion and mass movements by fragmenting rocks into smaller pieces, which are essential for soil formation (Source: Soil Science Journals).

Additionally, weathering significantly influences biodiversity as it affects soil depth and quality, which in turn supports vegetation. The process also plays a vital role in altering landforms and enriching ore deposits of valuable minerals such as iron and copper, contributing to the economy (Source: Economic Geology Reports).

In summary, while endogenic processes build the Earth’s surface from within, exogenic processes, particularly weathering, are essential for breaking down materials and shaping the environment.