The Prayas ePathshala

Exams आसान है !

Q1. What do you understand by Public Flogging? Critically analyze the term on the basis of a recent incident that happened in Kheda, Gujarat.

Paper & Topic: GS II – Judiciary-related issues

Model Answer:

Context:

In the Gujarati village of Undhela, several Muslim males have just been charged with throwing stones during a Navratri Garba celebration. The police assert that they made an effort to prevent the gathering from taking place in a common area near a mosque and a temple.
During the stone-throwing, six persons suffered injuries, and numerous vehicles, including a police car, suffered damage.

What Is Public Flogging?

Flogging is a form of corporal punishment that involves striking a person with a whip or rod, typically to the back, also known as whipping or caning. It is used as a form of judicial punishment as well as a means of maintaining order in prisons, schools, military settings, and private homes.

Why does this matter?

Men who took an oath to uphold law and order shouldn’t be openly and flagrantly breaking the law. Because of their flagrant disregard for the law, they are no different from the criminals from whom they are intended to protect society.
The crowd’s and later Twitter responses show a startling degree of support for such lawless police personnel. The preference for mob justice above the rule of law is a worrying trend, and this is an example of it.
Criticism has also been levelled at the unequal treatment of minority population members who have been accused. This incident gives the idea that the police wouldn’t hesitate to humiliate such folks in public.
It’s feared that these floggings may become widespread, similar to “bulldozer justice,” in which bulldozers are used to demolish the homes of minority populations in the name of justice.

What portion of this police action is legal?

Police actions should primarily be considered in light of society as a whole and the current situation. On the other side, certain police actions are glaring anomalies that indicate abuse of authority. Such conduct is unacceptable.
Violence has historically been justified as an essential tool for enforcing social discipline. The concept of “eye for an eye” and confinement in pitch-black isolation rooms was once accepted as norms. The notion of human rights and laws prohibiting torture, on the other hand, are relatively new in our sociocultural paradigm.

What needs to be done?

The inefficient law enforcement system is to blame for the recent public flogging incident, in which both citizens and police personnel chose to obey the lathi rather than the law.
In this situation, reforming the criminal justice system is more important than enforcing jungle justice.

Conclusion:

The episode of public flogging sends a lot of disturbing messages. The most significant of them is the reality that far too many people still do not recognise the importance of the rule of law as a fundamental component of democracy.

Q2. There is an urgent need to reduce the usage of agrochemicals in order to move towards sustainable agriculture. Discuss.

Paper & Topic: GS III – agriculture-related issues

Model Answer:

About Agrichemicals:

Chemicals used as agricultural inputs are known as agrichemicals. Among them are insecticides, fungicides, and herbicides.
These are inputs that are used on crops to fend against diseases and pests and increase yields.

How many Indian users are there?

In India, pesticides make up the majority of the agrichemical industry.
One of the world’s top producers of agrichemicals is India. In 2021, the agrichemical market reached 7.2 billion USD.
India is one of the top 10 exporters of agricultural products since around half of the demand comes from outside the nation. Exports of agrichemicals totaled USD 3.8 billion in 2021. Brazil, the US, Japan, Vietnam, France, and China are a few of the main export destinations.
Of all the chemicals used, fungicides and insecticides make up 75% of the total.
The government’s encouragement of environmentally friendly farming methods has led to an increase in the use of biopesticides, which now make up 15% of the market.

Why is that an issue?

Pesticides used on unapproved crops endanger the safety of agricultural products. Based on the authorized usage, the MRL, or maximum residue limit level, in agricultural items is monitored. Because it demonstrates that illegal use is still occurring undetected, this presents severe issues with food safety. Furthermore, this makes it challenging for India to export a sizable quantity of agricultural goods.
Their excessive use pollutes the environment.

Taking Action:

The adoption of a service-based business model by agrichemical companies may be helpful.
Agrichemicals from a variety of suppliers are offered by retailers in India, who also profit more. Shop owners urge farmers to purchase more than is necessary as a result.
The government may mandate that business owners document each agrichemical transaction in real-time.
The largest seed and pesticide manufacturer in the world, Bayer, has imprinted a QR code on each pesticide container. This allows for the location of the pesticides’ original production floor to be determined.
Consider enforcing the same QR tagging for India’s agricultural chemical industry’s inputs. As a result, it would be possible to provide more precisely targeted farm consulting services and grievance redressal.
The people in India who oversee the agrichemicals sector are also those who promote their use.
The sector’s safety information is accepted at face value. Volunteering cannot take the place of effective regulation.

Conclusion:

In India, agrichemicals are routinely used, especially those that are extremely hazardous. It is fair to use pesticides given the rising need for food and the rapidly expanding risks to crops; nonetheless, using too many chemicals has long-term negative effects on the land. It’s crucial to allow the land to recover.