08 October 2022

MAINS DAILY QUESTIONS & MODEL ANSWERS

 Q1. What is the importance of and challenges associated with new district formation in India.

 Paper & Topic: GS II – Governance related issues

 Model Answer:

• The creation of districts is crucial for effective government. To suit the needs of the shifting population, states have begun creating new districts. Manendragarh-Chirmiri-Bharatpur and Sakti, Chhattisgarh’s 32nd and 33rd districts, were just recently established.

How do new districts develop?

• The state governments may decide to add, delete, or modify districts.
• Either a state assembly bill or an executive order may be used to accomplish this.
• The executive option, which just calls for a notification to be published in an official gazette, is preferred by many state governments.
• The creation or modification of the districts are not handled by the central government. However, when a neighbourhood or railroad station needs a name change, the Union Home Ministry is called upon.
• More districts are typically found in larger states than in smaller ones. India now has more districts than ever before. According to Census data, 46 districts were created between 2001 and 2011. Currently, the nation is divided into more than 700 districts.

Why is the establishment of districts so crucial?

• Population growth has heightened the need for better development and management.
• Smaller districts, according to the states, provide better management and governance. For instance, the Majuli sub-division became the Majuli district in 2016 due to “administrative convenience”.
• The Constitution mandates the creation of panchayats, talukas, and districts to promote decentralisation and inclusive growth. This decentralised approach can help districts by providing them with grants for local development, for instance.
• It makes it possible to build vital infrastructure for things like telecommunications, power, water, sanitation, and healthcare. More investments are attracted by a robust infrastructure, and this results in the emergence of new sectors and businesses. The establishment of work for the locals results from this. Good employment prospects are associated with a healthy population’s income, which in turn encourages more investments in the economy and a positive feedback loop that fosters growth.
• Better roads, other infrastructure like water and power, education, healthcare, etc. have all been constructed in Chhattisgarh’s new districts, for example. Other districts, such as those in Telangana’s Mulugu and Narayanpet, Jharkhand’s Khunti, West Bengal’s Alipurduar, and Tamil Nadu’s Tenkasi, Tirupattur, Ranipet, Chengalpet, and Kallakurichi, have experienced a similar uptick in growth.
• The establishment of districts has made it possible for aid initiatives to reach even the most remote regions of the nation.
• It guarantees that the opinions of the populace are swiftly heard.

What are the difficulties?

• One of the biggest barriers is the cost of district establishment. This is due to the requirement of deploying devoted officers and public servants along with the installation of new administrative offices in the new districts.
• The public budget is further burdened by the exorbitant price. Rarely, state administrations would unite several towns to create a district in an effort to better serve the needs of the people and save operating costs.
• However, such concepts would cause social unrest among the populace, hurt the economy, and erode public confidence in the leadership and administration. For instance, disagreements arose on the criteria for allocating development financing to the constituent towns during the creation of Chhattisgarh’s most recent districts.

How do we approach it?

• Municipal grassroots development is essential to the nation’s overall development. For effective government, district formation is crucial, but it’s also critical to consider the demands of the neighbourhood and the expense to the exchequer.
• In conclusion, district organisation has both benefits and drawbacks. Before making a decision, the government must conduct a cost-benefit analysis.
• It is crucial to consult the neighbourhood, since they will ultimately profit from the decision, in order to understand their objectives and gain their trust. Conflicts between the people and the government would decrease as a result.

Conclusion:

• States are anticipated to change their internal borders as the population of Indians increases, resulting in the creation and revision of districts. This is required to adjust the administrative system to the population’s shifting requirements. The goals of the local community and thorough cost-benefit analyses, however, must serve as the foundation for district creation plans.

 Q2. What are the features and importance of the Light Combat Helicopter recently inaugurated in India.

 Paper & Topic: GS III – Internal Security related issues

 Model Answer:

• At the Jodhpur air station, the ‘Prachand’ Light Combat Helicopter was integrated into the Indian Air Force, giving India’s defence technology indigenization goals a much-needed boost.
• The 5.8-ton LCH is a dedicated combat helicopter that falls under the “light” category.
• It has a range of 550 km, a top speed of 268 kmph, and can run continuously for more than three hours. It works at altitudes up to 20,000 feet.

It accomplishes the following goals:

• Destroying an air defence system
• operations to quell insurrections
• battle anti-tank warfare operations involving countersurface troops combat rescue and search missions
• It is driven by two French-made Shakti engines.
• It has a smaller fuselage and a sleeker structure because the pilot and co-pilot are seated in tandem (i.e., one behind the other arrangement). The co-pilot is in charge of the weapon system.
• Because it is made of radar-absorbing material, it has a lower radar signature. A countermeasure dispensing system shields it from missile infrared seekers.

Why is it significant?

• Being the first attack helicopter to set foot on Siachen, the highest battleground in the world, the LCH created history.
• Only this particular helicopter can carry fuel and weapons while landing and taking off at heights of 15,000 feet. This makes it appropriate for deployment along the LAC.
• It is thought to be the lightest fighting helicopter ever made.
• Although there are now 45% of native people, estimates for the future show that this number will increase.
• The LCH’s induction is a noteworthy accomplishment given how slowly the defence procurement system operates.

 How do we go about it?

• Prachand’s hiring is an important step forward, but the HAL cannot afford to stop just now to enjoy itself.
• The Russia-Ukraine War has highlighted how heavily India depends on Russian military hardware.
• It is important that defence hardware be produced locally. Earlier this year, the Defence Ministry submitted 18 systems for consideration in the “Make in India” category. For industry-led projects in this area, 25% of the research and development funding for the 2022–2023 defence programme is set aside.
• The following major challenge will be presented by the HAL multi-role helicopter that is intended to replace the Mi17s (already being phased out).
• The amount of defense-related exports by the government has increased. India, for instance, was successful in persuading the Philippines to purchase the Brahmos missile. India will profit from maintaining excellent standards in its defence industry, regardless of the level of demand for Indian military helicopters on the international market.
• The addition of LCH to the air force represents a significant achievement in India’s efforts to domesticate the defence hardware sector. It’s crucial to maintain worldwide standards in defence manufacture and to ensure that the remaining helicopters are completed, built, and added to the defence forces’ inventory on schedule.