AIR 277 · CSE 2024 · GS2 · 56 pages

Srajit Kumar: GS2 answer copy

9 answers by Srajit Kumar, as written in the test. Each question opens a page with how other toppers answered it.

The questions

  1. Q6Discuss the implications of the 103rd Constitutional Amendment Act. How has the recent 'freebie culture' in elections impacted the fiscal health of states?
  2. Q88.
  3. Q9World in 21st century is seeing rise of smaller groupings, instead of large groups of 20th century.
  4. Q10India's focus has shifted from Indian Ocean to Indo-Pacific, showing evolution of foreign policy.
  5. Q1212.
  6. Q1313.
  7. Q14Art 82 of Constitution mandates delimitation of seats at a fixed interval, based on data from census.
  8. Q16New Education Policy, 2020 attempts to overhaul entire education system in country from primary to graduation.
  9. QAnswer the following questions: 1. Discuss the role of Zonal Councils in fostering cooperative federalism in India. 2. How does the Indian Constitution embody the principle of secularism? Discuss its challenges. 3. Critically analyze the impact of Section 8 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, on the criminalization of politics in India. 4. Discuss the significance of the Leader of Opposition (LoP) in a parliamentary democracy. 5. Discuss the Preamble as the bedrock of the Indian Constitution, highlighting its core principles.

The answers

Question 6 · 298 words written

Discuss the implications of the 103rd Constitutional Amendment Act. How has the recent 'freebie culture' in elections impacted the fiscal health of states?

Opening

103rd Constitution was declared as constitutional by Janhit Abhiyaan Case by Supreme Court.

I. Positive Implications on Social Justice

Body

  1. Upliftment measure for poor sections within unreserved category.

  2. Economic Justice: by access to govt. jobs to poor sections. [Art 38]

  3. Economic & Education mobility: increasing opportunities.

  4. Concept of socialism & welfarism upheld: Art 46: take steps for upliftment of weaker sections.

  5. Increased representation in higher educational institutions, lead to social justice.

II. Negative Implications

  1. Reservation originally as tool of social upliftment, and not economic upliftment.

  2. No access to other reserved caste (SC/ST/OBC) shows social & economic basis of reservation → not uniform.

  3. Only 4.9% Indians pay income tax. huge population is covered, leading to inclusion errors.

  4. Unethical methods to avail reservation by hiding incomes. Increasing tax base & people filing ITR returns could enhance utility of EWS reservation.

Recently, in Lok Sabha elections, almost all parties promised high amount of freebies to voters.

I. Welfare schemes inculcated freebie culture

  1. Freebies are being declared in all elections.

  2. Lack of capacity building: increase dependency of people.

  3. Moral Hazard: due to cheap ration, free electricity, water etc.

  4. Overexploitation of resources.

  5. Huge financial burden on state govts. → Punjab & Telangana have very poor fiscal health as shown by RBI report on State Finances.

  6. Reduce skill development and less human development → India's HDI was 135/193 countries

  7. Over dependence on govt. jobs: due to less skills.

Diagram
Freebie culture -> Lack of Empowerment -> Overdependence on freebies

II. However, it not completely overdependent

  1. Most states don't have parties that promised most freebies.
  2. Requirement of freebies to create demand & increase disposable income.
  3. Helps in upliftment.

Close

Freebies are a fiscal hazard & focus should be on capital expenditure as FY25 budget → ₹15 lakh crore provisioned.