07 July 2023

MAINS DAILY QUESTIONS & MODEL ANSWERS

Q1. For India to achieve Atma Nirbhar Bharat, defence independence is a necessity. Analyse.

Paper & Topic: GS II – Government Policies Interventions

• According to a former Indian prime minister, innovation must be carried out domestically. Imported goods cannot be the source of innovation, highlighting the importance of independence, particularly in the defence sector.

For the following reasons, self-reliance is necessary if Atma Nirbhar Bharat is to be realised:

• Strategic Independence: Defence industry self-sufficiency will increase India’s strategic independence and encourage expansion of the country’s aerospace and defence sectors.
• Cutting Imports: India ranks third globally in terms of military spending, according to the most current study from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. Only about 30% of India’s defence equipment is made there, though.
• 5 trillion dollars in GDP: India’s goal of having a 5 trillion dollar economy cannot be achieved without being self-sufficient in the defence industry.
• In terms of security, India is now dealing with a number of issues, such as the insurgency in the North East, militancy in J&K, and border disputes with China and Pakistan. It is clear that relying on imports will compromise the 1.4 billion people’s desire for security.
• Private Sector Boost: The transformation will benefit the private sector because exports are authorised and certain products are subject to government import restrictions.
• Unfriendly Neighbours: Since becoming an independent country, India has fought wars with Pakistan and China. The need to have a strong defence force and the impossibility of doing so without self-sufficiency are among the numerous lessons India has learned from these battles.
• Indo-Pacific: Independence is necessary to serve as a net security provider in the Indo-Pacific region.

To overcome the challenges and increase self-reliance in defence manufacturing, the government may take into consideration the following reform suggestions:

• Supporting the Private Sector: In order to create a defence industrial base, the government should think about helping the Indian private sector and entrusting it with more significant and reliable defence contracts. Being self-sufficient requires supporting the private sector’s capabilities in design, manufacturing, and research and development.
• Investment: Due to a shortage of funding, a number of defence projects are on hold. To secure sufficient funding for the three forces in relation to personnel costs, the Indian government should evaluate the defence budget allotment. Additionally, longer-term and greater capital investments are required for defence production, R&D, and other related areas.
• Decision-making: The Ministry of Defence should think about reorganising the decision-making process to address the decision-making issues that defence procurement is now confronting. For a more inclusive and effective decision-making process, representatives from the three forces should be included in defence procurement.
• A Defence Capital Acquisition Authority should be established outside the Ministry of Defence to decrease delays and corruption in the defence procurement process, as suggested by the report of the expert group recently established. The organisation will be in charge of managing all aspect of the defence purchase process, including the legal, financial, costing, and technical stages. Countries including France, the United Kingdom, and Australia have followed a similar concept.
• Research & Development: A much-needed reform would provide 25% of the defence R&D budget to start-ups, academics, and the private sector. India requires top-notch research centres and institutes that can help produce cutting-edge research in addition to the DRDO, CSIR, and IITs.
• Defence institutions: To address the demand for qualified human resources, specialised defence institutions must be formed.

At this point, a number of significant milestones have been reached in the effort to make India an independent country:

• India is one of the four countries with effective ballistic missile defence capability.
• Elite List: Although 24 countries have operated aircraft carriers in the past or are currently doing so, only the USA, UK, France, Russia, and China had the technical know-how to construct their own carriers. By constructing the first indigenous aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant, India recently became a member of this group.
• Light Combat Helicopters & Aircraft: Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL), a state-run aerospace company, created the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) and Prachand Light Combat Helicopter, giving the Indian Air Force a huge boost in defence indigenization.
• Surface-to-Air Missiles (SAMs): In 2015, the Indian Army adopted the Akash Weapon System. It is a homegrown supersonic short-range surface-to-air missile system that can attack a range of aerial threats, including aeroplanes, helicopters, and unmanned aerial vehicles.
• The Directorate of Naval Design in New Delhi designed the four ships that make up Project 28 on an indigenous basis, showcasing the esteemed tradition of naval designers.
• Intermediate Support Vessels (ISVs): In accordance with the “Make in India” plan, three Intermediate Support Vessels (ISVs)—designated T-48, T-49, and T-50—were commissioned into the Indian Navy. 14 of the ISVs were domestically produced.
• Improved Exports: Recently, defence exports showed a stunning 54.1% increase over the prior year. Additionally, according to Ministry of Defence figures, exports increased 334% over the previous five years.
• Future fights will not only call for bravery and courage, but also cutting-edge reconnaissance skills, top-notch cyber security, and cutting-edge armament. India must coexist with two hostile neighbours as well as many more neighbours who take advantage of China to their advantage. The current situation calls for a strong defence procurement programme with indigenous manufacturing capabilities supported by cutting-edge research and development. This will significantly increase India’s influence as a player in international peace and security.

Q2. The cornerstone for fostering good character characteristics in society is value-based education. Comment.

Paper & Topic: GS II à Education related issues

• Education is the process of learning new things and honing analytical and critical thinking skills. On the other hand, values are persistent characteristics or norms of behaviour that influence people’s actions. Education has the innate ability to instill values. In order for pupils to flourish in the real world, value-based education strives to provide them the moral compass they require. Through value education, students gain the ability to think critically and practically, enabling them to form strong character qualities and contribute as members of society.

Students are exposed to values through:

• Books contain knowledge and facts about historical figures like Buddha and Gandhi.
• Teachers act as role models for children and are crucial in instilling ethical behaviour in them. Values like respect, discipline, honesty, dedication, responsibility, self-esteem, truth, and tolerance are instilled through interactions and relationships between teachers and students.
• Peer interaction and various extracurricular activities in schools and colleges foster the growth of values like cooperation, sharing, and caring.

Why is character-based education the cornerstone of societal values?

• Enhances credibility: Education with a strong moral foundation instills virtues like compassion, responsibility, and honesty. excellent values contribute to the development of excellent character over time. People are more likely to trust and value someone with good character. This encourages trustworthy and positive interpersonal relationships.
• Value-based education offers an effective setting for teaching and learning of a wide range of academic, social, and interpersonal abilities. It also promotes a reflective mindset. It promotes contemplative and motivating qualities and attitudes. The pupils can be encouraged to help others and find their true self, enabling them to become excellent global citizens.
• Sensation of satisfaction: Even if a person is not as successful in life or in their work, they will feel satisfied if they have a strong sense of morals. Selflessness, for instance, entails operating without regard to one’s own interests or motives. It is an example of “Nishkaam Karma,” which means to perform your duties without seeking rewards. Through contentment, it makes life happier.
• Self-development: Students gain a solid sense of “Self” through value-based education. They gain more self-confidence to manage their own education. They grow to trust reason. Through silence and stillness within a framework founded on values, they become articulate and capable of speaking freely and well.
• The minimum and maximum standards of behaviour in public life are determined by human values that are taught in or promoted through education. For instance, if a person sees a car accident on the road, his compassion and empathy values will prompt him to transport the injured person to the hospital.
• Value-based education is seen as a solution to all significant issues in society, such as juvenile delinquency, drug usage, crimes against women, etc. Nelson Mandela once observed that “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” Through value-based education, we can help children grow into adults with strong character and values who know how to use their knowledge for the benefit of humanity at a time when society is experiencing a severe moral values crisis.