lordabhijith

  Exam cheating corrodes the core of civic life Stakeholders Nodal education officer Students Parents and relatives School authorities Exam invigilators Government Public at large Issues Mass cheating that subverts meritocracy; Article 14,15 and 16 Collusion by those who are responsible for imparting ethical principles, constitutional morality; 51 A and IPC Shortage of ethical staff Shortage of resources Authorities allowing a practice that is perpetuating poverty Resolution Breaking the vicious cycle Recruit examiners from outside Spend available resources Conduct examination under prompt surveillance Nobody will be allowed to damage the future of students Meanwhile improve the quality of education through various inexpensive interventions Long-term strategy  There is no way beyond conducting proper exams. This will turn vicious cycle into virtuous cycle. Improving the overall educational quality. Good exam - Good students - Good teachers - Better  educational outcomes -...

 This is a case of negative effects of technology Stakeholders Victim of mugging Victim of false identification Technology Police Public State   Issues involved Mugging incident False positive generated Hasty arrest without gathering supporting evidence Jumping into conclusion by public Victimization of innocent by public Measures to be taken Ensure Police is aware of possibility of error in technology Necessary training to Police Sticking to BNSS and Court directives; arrest to be made only after concrete evidence is obtained.  Ensure identity of victim and accused is kept secret. Media should be given delayed reports. In case of violations by fourth pillar, prompt prosecution should be taken. Police should support rehabilitation of falsely accused. Mistakes are part and parcel of activity. It is the courage to admit it and take corrective action that matters.  

  Traditional approaches to accountability is linear and top down, e.g., higher official, CAG, etc. Today it is being replaced by multi-stakeholder, bottom up and citizen led approaches. Bottom up For instance RTI 2005 enables any citizen to uncover fraud and alert authorities. Organizations like Lokpal, Ombudsman, Vigilance etc are obligated to look into complaints of all citizens NHAI, election commission and MGNREGA etc have portals to upload live progress and live complaints Social audits Multi stakeholder Social media activists, online and offline media actively monitor government activities PPP is the norm with private sector empowered to complaint and direct Environment as a stakeholder, EIA, SIA Shortcomings  India still can not tackle negligence of duty  Government is still too big with zero incentives to perform   India needs improvements in linear accountability and accommodation of new mechanisms through new robust legal provisions. 

  Emotional intelligence could be understood as identifying and managing emotions of one's own and of others.  It includes self awareness, self regulation, motivation, empathy, and social skills. These are more like personality characteristics than either emotion or intelligence Self-identification and regulation help one to be aware of one self and use that to our advantage, e.g., Yuvraj Singh hitting six 6  Motivation helps one to achieve great goals, e.g., Micheal Phelps training for 365 days. Social skills and empathy helps to work in teams and get team work done, e.g., M S Dhoni motivating whole cricket teams  Emotional quotient more necessary to success today than IQ.  

  It is necessary since administration could be overwhelming and laws often treading on individual rights. Compassion helps one to navigate issues and do good; without fear or favor, affection or ill will. E.g., allowing rations even with incomplete documentation.

  It is necessary to ensure objectivity, neutrality and non-partisanship in diverse societies. It enable one to not only co-exist but also celebrate differences. Absence of it creates severe institutional weaknesses, e.g., ethnic strife in Manipur.

  It is the ability to take decisions based on evidence alone. It is necessary as human mind can be easily influenced by emotions, biases and manipulation. It ensures executive can be trusted, ensures rule of law, and is dedicated to public service.

  It is necessary because political executive changes. Hence civil service should not be committed to any ideology or idea. But this should be with ethics, a strong adherence to constitutional morality and evidence.

  Swami Dayanad Saraswathi emphasize on education, social equality and ethical values have influenced Indian society so much that, they are still priorities of our socio-cultural sphere.  It was revealed once again during general elections. Education: It is still a priority in India and is highly sensitive political issue, e.g., Issue of migrations for education in Kerala, NEET in Tamil Nadu, allegations of bad coaching culture in Rajasthan etc. Social equality: Many parties guaranteed it during election since it is a high priority area, e.g., Socioeconomic caste census, Sabki saath abka vikas etc. Ethical values are of tantamount importance in Indian public sphere, e.g., allegations of corruption, sexual misconduct etc.,  India's socio-cultural sphere is heavily influenced by Swami and his Arya Samaj. It could be both boon and bane.

  With arrival of chatGPT 3.0; AI is no longer a fiction. World wide transformation to AI and Industry 4.0 is going on. This raises several concerns like Job security: it is important to council people about the importance of this change, e.g., on job counseling Fairness: employees should be given ample chances to adopt and adapt, e.g., bridge courses Transparency: AI rises several concerns regarding algorithms used, inherent biases, and hallucinations. It is important to balance accountability and business secrecy, e.g., self driving cars International collaborations are necessary to ensure these. e.g., Responsible AI Industrial revolutions are part and parcel of human history, e.g., agriculture, steam power, chemical energy etc. It is important to address the structural strain created by such changes to maximize benefits.

  Billionaires like Warren Buffet has pledged most of their wealth to charity It is Great since Most wealth is created by individual action and initiative, e.g., Rockefeller made his fortune from moving oil cheaply Rarely this wealth is used well by their successors, e.g., 85% billionaires did not inherit their wealth It reduces the glaring inequality of wealth that might become political rallying point Shortcomings of altruism Problems of most people are structural and will not be fixed by altruism, e.g., Institutional weakness, corruption, ethnic conflict etc. Altruism is far and few and is often not aimed at evidence backed policy interventions, e.g., water and sanitation  While individual altruism is great, reforms that truly make changes need collective will, like democracy, stable government, trust in institutions etc.

"The end of law is, not to abolish or restrain, but to preserve and enlarge freedom" - John Locke.  In this quote Locke is explaining the true purpose of law. Law is to restrict freedom so that everyone can enjoy it, e.g., traffic rules ensure everyone can access the road Sometimes law ensures one does not engender freedom of others, e.g., laws against crime There are laws that empower people, e.g., transgender rights act Laws also ensure resources are distributed fairly, e.g., national exam act They also ensure different communities co-exist together, e.g., constitutional law, election laws etc. Hence true purpose of law is to ensure full expression of the potential of an individual without transgressions from anarchy, marginalization or lack of resources.  

 “If ethics are poor at the top, that behavior is copied down through the organization” - Robert Noyce.  This reminds us about the importance of ethics at the top of any organization. Leaders are most visible and hence should display maximum integrity, e.g., Gandhian ethics spread throughout the length and breadth of India Leaders are copied and can set precedents; Nehru answered tough questions in parliament Leaders can lead by example; e.g., Lal Bahadur Shastri showing exemplary courage during 1965 war If top is rotten, bottom will be chaotic, e.g., Soviet Union leaders It is important to create trust in institutions, African nation suffers due to lack of ethics and democracy, worsening sectarian conflicts  Every leader should be ethical, with exemplary integrity so that the entire organization can benefit from the example and leadership.  

"The wise man does not lay up his own treasures. The more he gives to others, the more he has for his own" - Lao Tzu  Lao Tzu is describing the virtue of altruism in this quote Human beings are social animals, we are only as good as the society we live in. More we give more overall welfare is created, e.g., schools, hospitals, etc. It ensures our conscience is clear Altruistic giving increases our social standing, influence and reputation; makes us more powerful, e.g., Ratan Tata. It increases our moral standing in our society  On the flip side, nobody has the right to demand someones hard earnings. It should be left to individual choices and differences. Things aimed at altruism like high income taxes often lead to negative results  Lao Tzu is giving as a formulae to success,power and wealth. More value we create for others, more we get in return.

  Vulnerable sections like children, women, SC/ST, Disabled etc. are in need of quality public service delivery since they lack social, economic and intellectual capital. Quality of PSD Improvements are visible, e.g., 5T scheme Odisha India still lag behind Western Europe, Corruption P.I. ~90 Technology is seldom interfaced Attempt to dilute RTI is going on, e.g., reducing security of tenure of information commissionaires Code of conduct, ethics and citizen charters are often disregarded Way forward Instituting a culture based on ethics and probity Empowering vulnerable sections through transparency, accountability and integrity Citizen charters Right to services act PCA 1988 to be given more teeth As Aristotle have said quality is not an act, but an active pursuit.

  A citizen charter enlist the services and expected quality of it and is displayed publicly, e.g., land titles.  Obstacles Colonial bureaucratic work culture, e.g., people are considered as nuisance Lack of usage of regional languages Unrealistic timelines and quality Lack of awareness among public Various department with diverse mandates, e.g., a construction work involves various departments like environment, engineering, finance, administration etc. Way forward Simplifying procedures and standardizing them Minimizing the governmental interference where ever possible Wide awareness campaigns  Mission mode projects Statutory backing  Perhaps it is time to consider weaknesses of governmental systems as systemic and empower public, private sector and NGO's. Citizen charters should be the begging not end.

  Corruption involves paying money to avail or stop government action. Supply and demand Corruption has a supply side and demand side Those who demanding money and those who give money are equally guilty, e.g., for illegal sand mining Challenges It reflects moral decay at social and cultural level Denies the fundamental rights of other citizen Here, the ally of vigilance (citizen) act as a colluder It is tougher to detect and stop It is covered under new PCA 1988, but it needs strengthening  Collusive corruption is ethically more guilty. Vigilance agencies needs more powers to detect and prosecute it.

 Environmental, social and governance concerns are external to traditional functioning of corporations Necessity of integration Sustainability of growth is becoming low, e.g., global temperatures @1.5 degree above PIR level Growing inequality, top 1% own, 40% of national wealth Need to integrate morality into investors and shareholders, e.g., accountability, transparency etc  Ensure smoother co-operation various stake holders like public, share holders, managers, consumers, government etc Benefits Ensuring clarity of conscience Sustainable development Panchamrit goals Empowering vulnerable sections; women, children, SC/ST etc Increased productivity  Integrating multi-stakeholder approach and ESG could lead to several benefits like rapid growth, sustainability, poverty reduction and betterment of social inequality. Hence it is desirable.  

  Indian ocean region include countries in Africa like Mozambique, Somalia, islands like Mauritius, Diego Garcia, West Asian, South Asians and South East Asian nations and Australia Security threats 7500 K.M. coastline vulnerable to infiltration and trafficking, e.g., Mumbai attack Piracy, e.g., along Somalian coasts Growing presence of Chinese vessels Threats from non state actors, e.g., Houthi's Safety of shipping vessels and cargo ~70% trade, e.g., Hijacking Choke points like Strait of Malacca, Bab al Mandab etc. Multiple agencies like Navy, Coast Guard, Coastal Police etc Unreported fishing Marine pollution Disasters Way forward Increased number of navel assets, ships, submarines, listening stations, refueling centers and naval bases. Joint patrols and collaborations with navies in the region, e.g., SriLanka, Maldives, Indonesia etc. International collaborations with countries like US, UK, France etc. e.g., LEMOA, BECA, QUAD etc. Exercises increasing interoperability and HADR, ...

  Prevention of money laundering act 2002, was enacted to check the influence of corruption and black money in India. Recent amendment Dilutes the definition of proceeds of corruption, limiting it to valuable objects or money It expands the mandate of Enforcement Directorate It also allows ED to seize objects and take sou-motto action  Efficacy of PMLA Conviction rates ~95% The net proceeds caught is less than 10% of estimated black money Accusation of targeting political opposition has been made It offers no security of tenure to ED chief Still lacks provisions to include digital evidence, scientific investigation methods, cyber crime etc. No provisions for creation of capacity No code of ethics and charter of good faith Way forward A new law including new documents, method of investigations and international best practices is needed Keep burden of proof with the investigators ED role should be clearly defined India needs a empowered PMLA to root out corruption, black money a...

  Nuclear fusion occurs when two light nucleus fuse together to form a heavier nucleus, releasing energy. Advantages It creates much larger amount of energy compared to fission Fusible materials are abundant in nature, e.g., hydrogen It's waste products can be managed easily Once ignited, it could go on longer than fission Compared to others it is relatively carbon neutral Limitations It is much more difficult to create and sustains due to the need for great temperature and pressure If gone wrong, it could destroy huge areas, e.g., hydrogen bombs Technology still have a long way to go Huge initial investment needed Net energy gain have to be much larger to be viable Way forward Continued investment in R&D International collaborations like ITER Low interest and resource pooling Sustained commercialization and profit recovery   Technology sharing and knowledge dissemination   Mega projects like viable fusion reactors are necessary to achieve ambitious targets ...

  8 May 2024 Hindu news paper contained a rousing article arguing for inheritance taxes. Unfortunately the article fail to convince anyone. It does not even make a good case against inequality.  These kind of arguments are often emanate from soft core socialists. It is to fool the neutral reader who want to do good. But as the saying goes, 'road to hell is paved with good intentions'.  One of the supporting data in the article is really reveals the truth. It is the fact that, India managed to reduce the wealth of top 1% during 1965 to 1985.From around 16% in 1965 it dropped to 6% 1985. Which is around 40% of national wealth in 2023.  Now let us remember the two decades dominated by Indira Gandhi. India's poverty was around 40%, per capita income around $300, and 'Garibi Hatao' was a major slogan. In addition to that India saw war, emergency and dwindling of Forex reserves.  Coming to the current era of liberal economics of Dr. Manmohan Singh and his vocal succes...

  Earthquakes occur when energy built up in Earth's layers are released along a fault line Vulnerability of Delhi Himalayas is a weak zone, with zone 5 classification High density of population in excess of 4000 person per sq.km. Mixture of young and old buildings, some are more than 100 years old Lack of adequate spacing; e.g., slum areas Awareness and preparedness of people Lack of capacity of Delhi municipal co-operation Institutional structure of Earthquake management in India Sendai frame work IMD issues warnings NDMA 2005 institutes an authority Guidelines regarding earthquake Primary responsibility to co-operation, supported by UT, Union and response forces Response, recovery, rehabilitation and resilience model Drawbacks People resilience is low Uncontrolled urban growth  Buildings are not earthquake resistant Way forward Building code to be evolved Master plan of expansion to be developed Freedom and flexibility to stick to guidelines Recruitment to NDRF should be thr...

  India is the world's largest milk producer and have the largest number of cattle. White revolution It was achieved via the leadership of Dr. Varghese Kurian  Through milk co-operatives like Anand and Karnataka co-operatives Artificial insemination based on high milk yielding varieties was used Improvements in cattle feed, shelter and care Processing of milk and milk products; Amul, Nandini, Milma Productivity concerns India's productivity is low compared to world standards Heat, low quality of feed, resilience of cows etc contribute to it Also processing losses affect it Skill of cow farmers, knowledge and technology are great barriers Way forward Usage of latest technology,e.g., cattle farms with air-cooling, filter water and music Improvement of feeder crops Leveraging indigenous breeds; Rashtriya Gokul Mission World wide marketing; e.g., investments from EFTA. countries One health approach India needs to increase it's milk productivity to increase farm income, export r...

  Article 112 of Indian Constitution asks the President to lay an annual financial statement before Parliament Budget includes Expenditure needed in the next financial year Ways to raise revenue Actual s of gone year Revised estimate of current year It is mostly made up of projections and policy than solid financial data   Budget is quite widely discussed Media covers budget widely, e.g., news paper Opposition criticize and points out faults People express their will through frequent elections, e.g., TRS won bye-elections after introducing Ryathu Bandhu scheme Overall economic conditions and growth is widely discussed, e.g., inflation Budget need not be taken too seriously since it is mostly projections, e.g., serious revenue falls and expenditure excess occurs, e.g., MGNREGA Budget is disregarded due to Decreasing quality of research for budget and economic survey Lack of proper discussions Disruptions Lower penetration of higher education Decreasing quality of politics and p...

  National green hydrogen mission (N.G.H.M.) aims to make 5 million metric tonne Green Hydrogen (GH2) by 2030 N.G.H.M. It aims to make 60-100 G.W. electricity 6 million jobs  Electric grid stability Over come charging delay and charging range issues Contribution to energy security India imports 80% of it's fossil fuels Around 50% electricity is sourced from coal and other fossil fuel It could kick start the electricity revolution Function as an intermediate fuel Energy goals Make 50% electricity from renewable sources Go carbon neutral by 2070 Make 500 G.W. green electricity Help from N.G.H.M. GH2 can solve intermittent nature of green energy It can store energy cheaply It could de-carbonize important sectors like cement, trucking, aviation etc  N.G.H.M. have the potential to be a game changer ensuring energy security, meeting climate goals and leading India towards sustainable development.      

 Land productivity could be defined as amount of crop produced per unit area while water productivity means amount of crop produced per unit volume of water. Need to shift to water productivity India is a net exporter of water as it exports water intensive crops like rice 2/3rd of India is suffering from ground water depletion Climate change means more intense rains in less number of days, it warrants water use efficiency Himalayan region is experiencing snow free summers, which means grater water stress in future Urban areas experience water stress Population is still growing  Challenges Huge dependence on exports like rice, wheat etc Powerful social and political interest groups that rely on old metric, e.g., INLD, MKSS etc. Old institutional structure depends on old metric,e.g., MSP. Need to use new methodology, technology and education Human psychological inertia Way forward We need to demonstrate new methods through pilot projects Implement Mihir Sen Committee reforms ...

  Indo-Tibetan Border Police is the primary force guarding the India-China border. Role They have to guard the border against any external incursion Assist the army during war time Maintain border infrastructure Maintain good relationship with people in the border Allow genuine economic transit Check illegal migration, drug and human trafficking Surveillance Suggesting counter measures needed Act as a force multiplier   ITBP should be kept in good shape through prompt recruitment, proper training and adequate equipment  Hence ITBP plays a multi-faceted role that includes surveillance, maintenance and countering any adverse action along India - China border.  

  Recently, Indian shipping in Red sea came under attack by Houthi Rebels Need for concerted global efforts Toppling of legitimate government and rule based international order,e.g., Wagner group using fake videos of national leaders Affecting global trade and connectivity, use of drones by Pakistan based terrorist groups Reducing trust on institutions and inciting violence, e.g., Kalistan separatists using misinformation Increasing social polarization Trans border nature of crime and lack of clear guidelines Governance requires swift action in emerging disruptive trends to minimize negative fall outs.

  Success of Virgin Galactic, Space X and ISRO show space tourism is not fiction anymore. Challenges It could be costly and only affordable to rich CO2 emissions  High energy use It requires the efforts of our best minds Erratic policy priorities and cost overruns, e.g., Boeing's space mission. Way forward Increased research to reduce cost, CO2 emissions and energy Researchers should be freed after meeting goals CSR and benefit sharing; including technology developed, e.g., responsible AI Space policy formulation with clear guidelines Use of renewable energy, e.g., green hydrogen  Space tourism needs clear policy guidelines to minimize resources used, meet social responsibility and enhance research impact.  

  Recently IPCC informed the world that over 2/3rd glaciers are receding in the Arctic faster than expected Reasons Sustained global warming that is around 1.5 degree above industrial revolution level Increasing ocean temperatures Increase industrial activity around arctic Polar ozone depletion Impact Changing pattern of monsoon and other atmospheric systems Extinction of Arctic specimens and decreased biodiversity Opening up polar trade routes like, Northern sea route Scramble for Arctic resources    Accelerated global warming have potential to make Arctic ice free. It could have lasting geopolitical, socioeconomic and climatic impact.

  Water is an essential resource for human life without which human life can not sustain. Government initiatives for water PM Jal Jeevan Yojana PMKSY; Per drop more crop National Mission for Clean Ganga and Namami Ganga Issues in quantity and quality 2/3rd of India suffer from groundwater depletion Most of the states above tropic of cancer experience prevalence of heavy metal poisoning Severe heat and flood in Southern states reducing quality Way forward Rain water harvesting mission to replenish ground water on a war footing Dedicated department to study, publish and suggest policy regarding essential resources like air, water, food and housing Completion of JJM with water quality testing infrastructure and cost sharing India needs to address ground water depletion, heavy metal poisoning and urban water issues immediately, to fullfill SDG 6.  

  Recently India's public stock holding and PDS came under fire in WTO Arguments against food subsidy It artificially inflate consumer prices and promote wastage of money, e.g., food subsidy is India's second largest subsidy. It distorts demand and supply and weans farmers away from market signals,e.g., high prices for fruits and vegetables. It promotes resource inefficiency,e.g., ground water depletion and free electricity It creates powerful social interest groups, e.g., MKSS  Arguments for food subsidy Unique socioeconomic conditions of India,e.g., Jajmani system, large population, largest number of poor Subsidy have incentivized to increase production, e.g., from net importer to second largest producer of grains Climate dependence of agriculture and vagaries of monsoon History reveals lot of examples where demand-supply mismatch occurs,e.g., natural calamities, pandemics, hyper inflation, war etc.  India needs a PDS due to it's unique historical, socioeconomic and geo...

 Historically, the currency of the leading economy is used as a back up in global trade and enjoys lowest interest rate due to wide acceptance, e.g., Dutch guilder, British pound, and Currently US Dollar Factors contributing to current de-dollarization Rise of China Withdrawal  of US from global trade arrangements, regional security guarantees and globalization Rise of regional powers like India and their wish to hedge their bets against US Dollar and It's clout,e.g., promotion of rupee Rise in populism, regionalism and widespread polarization, e.g., income inequality Dominance of US Dollar is here to stay Free trade and military power of USA Chinese economies dependence on US Dollar US edge on technology Widespread suspicion of Chinese debt trap diplomacy Rise and fall of currencies is not new in global history. But we need to understand the vital role a super power plays in global trade, security and creation of wealth and welfare.

  Disruptive technology like block chain and AI tools have the potential to make Indian agriculture more efficient and sustainable. Land titles: Block chain can ensure government schemes reaches the last mile LLM can act as farmers friend, guide and philosopher especially through regional languages AI tools can be used for taking sowing, harvesting decisions according to market demand Block chains ensure firm farm contracts, between farmer and middle man, where-house receipts, and future contracts AI can reduce wastage and ensure forward and backward linkages  It can also be used for processing suggestions  New technology have the potential to increase efficiency, It should be captured through hand holding, introduction and enforcing contracts.

  Food security could be defined as access to adequate and nutritious food through out year and in future. Different dimensions of food security and India's status Food production ; India produces surplus quantity of food and is a net exporter Access ; Around 10% of Indians still struggle to food as per Government data. This is due to in adequate purchasing power and socioeconomic barriers Nutrition : India struggles most here with around 30% stunting, 50% women Anemia, lack of micro nutrients etc. (NFHS) Sustainability : 2/3 rd of India is climate vulnerable and faces serious sustainability issues. Including cultivation of water intensive crops India needs serious policy measures to ensure food access, nutrition and sustainability. Schemes like PMGKY, POSHAN, Millet promotion etc should be expanded.  

  Sanchi Stupa is one of the most important monument in Buddhism having historical and architectural importance. It contains remains of Buddha and his chief disciple Ananda Architecturally it supports an arch and pillar masonry showing state of the art technology of it's time Also carving of stone to create sculptures gives a new style to rock painting and carving  It marks the beginning of creating permanent free standing structure for religion. Later Hinduism and other religions followed it Also elaborate sculptures inspired temple art of later times Buddhist stupas in South East Asia is a continuation of it. Stupas were created to spread the message of Buddhism far and wide. It symbolized Buddhas life, it's message and demonstrated the best technology of the time.

 Traditional theater forms of India are visual and performing art like modern drama or cinema,e.g., Ramleela, Kudiyattam, Thol bommalattam etc. Reflection of ideals, emotions and individuals role in community Ramleela contains the ideal of goodness and ultimate victory of good character Kudiyattam brings into play the nine emotions of human life like anger, valor, romance, kindness, contempt, fear, calm, wonder and humor Mudiyette shows how individual should bear accept suffering and bring order from chaos through constant striving. Ultimately Goddess Kaali emerges and calms down. All these performing art was created not just for entertainment, subtle virtue signalling and social control are part and parcel of it, e.g., in many areas these art was performed by Dalit communities and Upper caste people allowed them voice there criticism, through it.