UPSC Mains Previous Year Questions 2020: GS2 Indian Polity | Indian Polity for UPSC CSE PDF Download

Q1: “There is a need for simplification of procedure for disqualification of persons found guilty of corrupt practices under the Representation of Peoples Act”. Comment.
Ans: The Representation of the Peoples Act (RPA), 1951 deals with how elections for parliament and state legislatures are conducted, including rules for membership qualifications, disqualifications, corrupt practices, and election offenses.
Section 123 of RPA, 1951 outlines disqualification reasons due to corrupt practices:

• Bribery: offering gifts, promises, or rewards to influence voters.
• Undue influence: interfering with voters' free exercise of rights.
• Spreading false information as a candidate.
• Promoting enmity between citizens.
• Exceeding the expenditure limit.

Procedure for Disqualification under RPA:

• The disqualification process for corrupt practices starts after elections, via a petition to the State High Court as per Article 329 of the Constitution.
• Section 8(3) states that an MP or MLA sentenced to two or more years in jail for another crime will be disqualified for six years upon release.

Reasons for Electoral Malpractice Despite Regulations:

• Enforcing many provisions is tough despite an active Election Commission.
• While some frauds like booth capturing have reduced, vote-buying and unaccounted campaign spending persist.
• A study found that a significant portion of voters received cash for their votes over the last decade.
• Candidates often surpass campaign expenditure limits.
• Petitions go to High Courts, which already face numerous pending cases, causing delays despite the mandated six-month disposal.
• The RPA lacks clarity on preventing the misuse of official resources favoring the ruling party.

Proposed Solutions:

• The Law Commission suggests forming special election benches to swiftly handle election petitions.
• It recommends granting the President, advised by the Election Commission, the authority to decide disqualification periods for guilty candidates.

Q2: “Recent amendments to the Right to Information Act will have a profound impact on the autonomy and independence of the Information Commission”. Discuss.
Ans: The Right to Information (RTI) Act aimed to empower citizens, enhance transparency, accountability in government, curb corruption, and ensure a functioning democracy for the people.

Recent Amendments to the RTI Act:

• The Right to Information (Amendment) Act, 2019 altered the status, salaries, and tenure of Central Information Commissioners (CICs) and State Information Commissioners (SICs).
• The original Act specified salaries and terms for CICs and SICs, while the amendment grants the Central Government the authority to determine these.
• Arguments for the amendments cite the non-identical mandates of Election Commission and Information Commissions as a reason for varied status and service conditions.

Impact of Amendments on Information Commissions:

• Independent structures, like Information Commissions, are crucial for a democratic state focused on justice and constitutional guarantees.
• The amendments risk executive interference in the functioning of quasi-judicial bodies, potentially compromising the doctrine of separation of powers and democratic checks.
• They also challenge federalism principles by allowing the Central government to alter the terms of service for state information commissions.
• The amendments might hinder access to information, crucial for ensuring accountability of representatives and the state.

Strengthening the RTI Act:

• The 2nd ARC highlighted RTI as fundamental for governance, checking power misuse, arbitrariness, and corrupt practices, emphasizing the need to fortify its provisions for good governance.

Q3: How far do you think cooperation, competition and confrontation have shaped the nature of federation in India? Cite some recent examples to validate your answer.
Ans: Federation Overview: A federation is a political entity where partially self-governing states or regions unite under a central government. Granville Austin characterizes India's federation as cooperative, resulting in a robust Central government without weakening provincial ones. This distinctive federalism fosters cooperation, competition, and occasional confrontation among the federal units.

Cooperation:

• During GST reforms, states agreed to forgo a portion of their tax share for long-term gains.
• States and the Centre collaborated extensively during the COVID-19 pandemic to combat the virus.

Competition:

• Post the 1991 Liberalization Reforms, states competitively sought foreign investment and industries.
• NITI Aayog replaced the Planning Commission, promoting competition among states and publishes rankings based on Ease of Doing Business, encouraging reforms at the grassroots.
• The Aspirational Districts Programme (ADP) by NITI Aayog aims to uplift 115 backward districts through convergence, collaboration, and competition.

Confrontation:

• Between 1967 and 1990, confrontational federalism emerged due to regional parties, leading to conflicts between States and the Union.
• The rise of coalition politics empowered states nationally, reflected in instances like West Bengal's role in the River Sharing Agreement and Tamil Nadu's involvement in conflicts like India's engagement with LTTE in Sri Lanka.

Impact on Indian Federation:

• Regional aspirations prompted decentralization and institutionalization of Local Self-Government via the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendment Acts.
• Implementation of GST made the Centre and States equal fiscal partners in sharing an indirect tax base.
• Acceptance of the 14th Finance Commission's recommendation gave States a 42% share from the central pool funds.

Future of Indian Federalism:

• Cooperative and competitive federalism will continue driving India's growth, but avoiding confrontations among federal units is crucial. 
• The Inter-state Council can facilitate cooperation between the Centre and States on contentious policy matters.

Q4: The judicial systems in India and the UK seem to be converging as well as diverging in recent times. Highlight the key points of convergence and divergence between the two nations in terms of their judicial practices.
Ans: Comparing Indian and UK Judicial Systems: Both India and the UK share a democratic parliamentary form of government but exhibit differences and similarities in how their Executive, Legislature, and Judiciary function.

Origins and Evolution:

• The Indian Judicial System traces back to the 'Mayors Courts' established by the East India Company in 1726, evolving during British Rule to adopt principles like the rule of law and recording judicial precedents.
• Post-Independence, India retained this system, making alterations to fit its unique circumstances.

Converging Aspects:

• Independence of Judiciary: Judges in both countries can only be removed for serious misconduct with consent from both Houses of Parliament.
• Ultra-vires: Courts in both nations can declare executive actions as ultra-vires, exceeding legal authority.
• Interpretation of Constitution: Courts in India and the UK serve as the highest interpreters of their respective constitutions.

Diverging Elements:

• Sovereignty of Parliament: In the UK, judiciary lacks the authority to nullify an Act of Parliament, unlike India where courts possess this power.
• Basic Structure Doctrine: India introduced the Doctrine of Basic Structure, preventing the executive from altering core constitutional values, a concept absent in the British system.
• Unified Three-Tier System: Unlike the UK's separate legal systems for England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, India has a unified three-tier judiciary, with the Supreme Court at the apex.
• Appointment of Judges: While the UK utilizes the Judicial Appointments Commission, India appoints judges to the Supreme Court and High Courts through the collegium system under the President's authority.

Legacy and Evolution:

• The British judicial system laid the foundation for India's judiciary. 
• However, India's judiciary has evolved by adopting global best practices to protect democracy and uphold the rule of law.

Q5: ‘Once a Speaker, Always a Speaker’! Do you think this practice should be adopted to impart objectivity to the office of the Speaker of Lok Sabha? What could be its implications for the robust functioning of parliamentary business in India?
Ans: Role of the Speaker in Parliamentary Democracy: The Speaker holds a crucial position in a parliamentary democracy, overseeing House proceedings, maintaining decorum, and handling regulatory, administrative, and judicial functions.

Challenges Faced by Speakers:

• Speakers are often accused of favoring their party affiliations, leading to instances of denying opposition members opportunities to raise questions or declining demands for recorded votes.
• Some Speakers are criticized for pursuing political ambitions post their tenure, transitioning to other roles like ministerial positions.

UK System Adaptation in India:

• Adopting the UK practice of "Once a Speaker, always a Speaker" could enhance the impartiality, fairness, and independence of the Speaker's Office in India.
• It would safeguard the Speaker from political pressures, ensuring a commitment to neutrality as a constitutional value and providing security of tenure.
• However, uncontested re-election might impact constituency representation, limiting new perspectives in the office, and requires robust accountability measures.

Alternatives for Reforming the Speaker's Office in India:

• Options like the Irish model suggest selecting Speakers with no political ambitions, disallowing future political office, and ensuring a lifelong pension.
• A separate tribunal could handle issues related to representative disqualification, while restrictions on Speaker's discretionary powers could include imposing deadlines for resignation cases or floor tests.
• Imposing deadlines and guidelines to exercise entrusted powers can enhance impartiality and transparency in the Speaker's office, emphasizing the need for changes to uphold India's freedom and liberty.

Q6: “Institutional quality is a crucial driver of economic performance”. In this context suggest reforms in the Civil Service for strengthening democracy. (Governance)
Ans: Institutional Quality in Democracy: The success of a democracy depends on institutional quality, ensuring adherence to principles like public service, rule of law, and social justice. The Civil Services, as a vital institution, acts as a bridge between the government and citizens, bolstering democracy and fostering economic objectives like sustainable growth and development.

Challenges Faced by Civil Services in India:

• Status Quoist: Civil servants often resist change, clinging to their privileges and becoming resistant to necessary transformations, hindering democratic decentralization.
• Rule-Book Bureaucracy: Adherence to rules without considering people's needs results in bureaucratic behavior, fostering red-tape and inadequate responses to citizens' needs.
• Political Interference: Political pressures often lead to corruption and arbitrary transfers of honest civil servants, hampering policy implementation efficiency.

Civil Services Reforms:

• Prompt Service Delivery: Departments should simplify processes, reduce administrative delays, and incorporate participatory feedback mechanisms for efficient service.
• Reducing Discretion & Enhancing Accountability: Defining key responsibilities and gradually minimizing discretionary aspects is crucial in evaluating civil servants. Implementing tools like Online Smart Performance Appraisal Report Recording Online Window (SPARROW) is necessary for central and state cadres.
• Incorporating Code of Ethics: Instituting ethical underpinnings as per recommendations from committees and the 2nd ARC is vital. Streamlining codes of conduct and sensitizing civil servants to people's issues through a Code of Ethics is essential.

Sardar Patel's Perspective:
Sardar Patel viewed the civil service as the "steel frame of government machinery." However, without adequate reforms, this vital framework risks corrosion and collapse.

Q7: “The emergence of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (Digital Revolution) hasinitiated e-Governance as an integral part of government”. Discuss. (Governance)
Ans: The Fourth Industrial Revolution: The Fourth Industrial Revolution describes the merging of physical, digital, and biological domains, combining advancements in AI, robotics, IoT, quantum computing, and other technologies. It's not just about technological shifts but an opportunity for everyone, including governments and policymakers, to utilize converging technologies for an inclusive, human-centered future.

Impact on Governance:

• Technological advancements, especially in computers, digital tech, and telecommunications, have fundamentally changed state functions.
• E-Governance: E-Governance represents a reform process in government operations, sharing information, and service delivery. It utilizes ICT to provide services and information to citizens and businesses.

Positive Examples of E-Governance:

• Digital India: Aiming for inclusive growth and narrowing the digital divide by employing low-cost, transformative technology solutions to empower ordinary Indians.
• BharatNet: A large-scale digital infrastructure project connecting 250,000 gram panchayats via high-speed optical fiber network.
• Increased Online Transactions: Demonstrating citizens' swift adoption of digital technologies, prompting the government's responsibility to provide infrastructure and policies for effective digital economy.
• Umang: A mobile platform granting access to government services like EPF and Ayushman Bharat.
• Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT): Directly crediting subsidies and scholarships into beneficiaries' bank accounts, ensuring targeted delivery and reducing corruption.

Impact on Governance:
The Fourth Industrial Revolution presents significant potential to enhance governance by improving accountability, service accessibility, and fortifying democracy.

Q8: Indian Constitution exhibits centralising tendencies to maintain unity and integrity of the nation. Elucidate in the perspective of the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897; The Disaster Management Act, 2005 and recently passed Farm Acts.
Ans: Constituent Assembly's Views: Prominent Constituent Assembly members emphasized the need for a stronger Union government to ensure India's survival and political stability amidst its diverse landscape. The Indian Constitution inherently favors the Union government, establishing it as superior to the states in various aspects.

Centralizing Aspects of the Constitution:

• Article 1: Describes India as a Union of States, highlighting a strong and indivisible Union despite the states' destructible nature.
• Distribution of Powers: The Union List contains more subjects than the State List, with Union laws prevailing in case of deadlock in the Concurrent List. Additionally, residual powers remain with the Union.
• Centralizing Provisions: Features like a single Constitution, single citizenship, and all-India public services manifest centralizing tendencies.

Examples of Centralizing Actions:

• Disaster Management Act, 2005: Enabled the Union to combat COVID-19 despite health being a state subject.
• Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897: Granted states authority to control disease outbreaks, utilized during COVID-19 with Union advisories made enforceable.
• Three Farm Acts: Introduced by the Central government under the Concurrent List, entering the agricultural sphere, typically a State subject.

Essential Role of a Strong Union: A robust Union is crucial for coordinating crucial national matters, ensuring peace. While centralizing aspects exist, India's federal structure includes features like a dual polity and bicameral parliament.

Q9: Judicial Legislation is antithetical to the doctrine of separation of powers as envisaged in the Indian Constitution. In this context justify the filing of large number of public interest petitions praying for issuing guidelines to executive authorities.
Ans: Separation of Powers: The doctrine of separation of powers divides the state into legislative, executive, and judicial branches, each having distinct roles and authority.

• Executive: Responsible for policy-making and law implementation.
• Legislature: Empowered to enact laws and oversee executive functions.
• Judiciary: Responsible for dispute resolution and exercises judicial review over executive and legislative actions (Article 32 and 226).

This separation ensures a system of 'checks and balances' among these branches.

• Judicial Legislation: While law-making is primarily the legislature's domain, the judiciary sometimes issues directives and policies through judgments, encroaching on legislative powers.
  Examples: Instances like fixing Diwali fireworks timings in the Arun Gopal case (2017) and annulling a rule in the M.C. Mehta case (2018) showcase such judicial overreach.
• Public Interest Litigation (PIL) and Judiciary: PILs are filed for protecting public interests like pollution, road safety, etc., compelling the judiciary to intervene in legislative matters or issue guidelines to the executive.
• Instances: Cases like Vishaka (1997) and K. Puttaswamy (2017) saw the judiciary recognizing fundamental rights violations and laying down guidelines for legislative action.

While judicial legislation contradicts the separation of powers, there are instances where it becomes necessary for the judiciary to guide executive authorities. However, it's crucial for courts to exercise caution and restraint to prevent judicial activism from becoming judicial adventurism.

Q10: The strength and sustenance of local institutions in India has shifted from their formative phase of ‘Functions, Functionaries and Funds’ to the contemporary stage of ‘Functionality’. Highlight the critical challenges faced by local institutions in terms of their functionality in recent times.
Ans: Mahatma Gandhi once said, "When the panchayat raj is established, public opinion will do what violence can never do."
Local Self Government refers to managing local affairs through elected local bodies. In India, the history of local institutions traces back to 1952 with the introduction of the Community Development Programme (CDP).

Establishment of Local Institutions:

• In the initial phase of local institutions, discussions revolved around assigning functions, execution responsibilities, and mobilizing funds for implementation.
• The Balwant Rai Mehta Committee in 1957 proposed a three-tier structure for Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs): Gram Panchayats, Panchayat Samitis, and Zilla Parishads.
• Subsequent committees like Ashok Mehta (1977), GVK Rao (1985), and Gadgil (1988) made recommendations that led to the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments.
• These amendments granted constitutional status to a three-tier local government system, ensuring direct elections, reserved seats for SC/ST and women, and the formation of State Finance Commissions.

Challenges Facing Local Institutions:

• Structural Deficiencies: PRIs suffer from inadequate support and technical knowledge, hindering effective bottom-up planning.
• Adhocism: Lack of clear agendas in meetings like Gram Sabha and Gram Samiti leads to a disorganized structure.
• Proxy Representation: Despite reservations for women and SC/ST, proxy representation like Panch-Pati hinders genuine representation.
• Overlapping Functions: Ambiguity in division of functions and funds concentrates power with states, restricting elected representatives' control over local issues.

While local institutions have strengthened grassroots democracy, challenges in functionality have emerged. Addressing these issues will necessitate raising awareness among the masses and representatives, defining clear responsibilities, and establishing accountability mechanisms.

Q11: Rajya Sabha has been transformed from a ‘useless stepney tyre’ to the most useful supporting organ in past few decades. Highlight the factors as well as the areas in which this transformation could be visible.
Ans: The Constituent Assembly supported the establishment of Rajya Sabha, recognizing the need for a platform at the Parliament representing the states, allowing them to voice their concerns and scrutinize hastily passed legislation. While Rajya Sabha holds an unequal position compared to Lok Sabha in various matters, its significance lies in:

• Empowerment to enable Parliament to legislate on State List subjects (Article 249).
• Authorization to create All-India Services common to the Centre and States (Article 312).
• Acting as a check on rushed, flawed, and poorly considered legislation by revising and deliberating on bills.
• Maintaining federal balance by safeguarding states' interests from excessive central interference.

Rajya Sabha has evolved into a crucial supporting body due to several factors:

• Cooperative Federalism: The strengthening of democracy in India has led to a spirit of cooperative federalism, compelling the Government to heed Rajya Sabha's advice.
• Rise of Regional Parties: Since the 1980s, the growing influence of regional parties has increased their representation in Rajya Sabha, augmenting its impact in bill passage.
• Coalition Governments: The 1990s saw the advent of coalition governments, necessitating broader consensus in lawmaking.
• Expert Opinion: The necessity for expert viewpoints, especially in bills like the Personal Data Protection Bill and Surrogacy Bill, has amplified Rajya Sabha's role.

Noteworthy transformations include:

• The crucial support of Rajya Sabha in the abrogation of Article 370, benefitting the people of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
• Rajya Sabha's proactive role in the GST reforms, where states' support was vital for implementation.
• The enactment of the POTA Act in 2002 prompted a joint sitting of Parliament under Article 108 due to objections raised in Rajya Sabha.

Despite the fluctuations in Indian politics, Rajya Sabha has remained a guardian of political and social values, fostering cultural diversity, assimilating the aspirations of the Indian populace, and safeguarding their interests.

Q12: Which steps are required for constitutionalization of a Commission? Do you think imparting constitutionality to the National Commission for Women would ensure greater gender justice and empowerment in India? Give reasons.
Ans: Constitutionalisation involves subjecting governmental action within a specific field to the structures, processes, principles, and values outlined in the Constitution.

Steps to Constitutionalise a Commission:

• Passing a Constitutional Amendment Bill under Article 368.
• Approval of the Bill in each House by a majority of the total membership present and voting.
• Assent of the President to amend the Constitution as per the terms of the Bill.
  Example: The 102nd Constitution Amendment Act, 2018 granted constitutional status to the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) by introducing new Articles 338B and 342A.

Benefits of Imparting Constitutional Status to the National Commission for Women (NCW):

• Granting NCW the power of a Civil Court to better protect women's interests.
• Making discussion of NCW reports by Parliament mandatory, thereby amplifying the voice of women.
• Offering greater autonomy to NCW in regulating its procedures.

However, a review of the functioning of other Constitutional bodies like NCST or NCBC reveals a different scenario:

• They play an advisory role and lack the authority to issue binding directions or injunction orders, limiting the enforceability of their reports.
• These Commissions do not function as adjudicatory bodies, unlike the hierarchical judicial system envisioned in the Constitution.
• Constraints like insufficient funds, manpower, and political interference reduce the effectiveness of these Commissions.

While granting constitutional status to the NCW can contribute to greater gender justice and empowerment, additional steps such as mandatory execution of injunctions, proper funding, and elevating its status to an adjudicatory body are necessary.

Q13: In order to enhance the prospects of social development, sound and adequate health care policies are needed particularly in the fields of geriatric and maternal health care. Discuss. (Social Justice)
Ans: Impact of Health on Societal Development: Poor health signifies a fundamental form of suffering and deprivation, impacting well-being, burdening families, weakening societies, and limiting potential. Efforts over time have extended life expectancy and reduced common causes of child and maternal mortality.

Interconnectedness of Social Development and Healthcare:

• In developing nations, breaking the cycle of poverty and poor health is vital for progress.
• Health is crucial for meeting basic human needs, enhancing quality of life, and significantly influencing a country's economic growth.
• Rising out-of-pocket healthcare expenses annually push millions of Indians below the poverty line.
• Quality healthcare access and robust health policies are essential for the healthy development, empowerment, and reduction of deprivation among vulnerable groups like women and the elderly.

Geriatric Health:

• Ageing is an ongoing, universal process, with the aged stage typically marked by reduced productivity and increased economic dependence, defined in India as individuals aged 60 and above.
• Investments in an ageing population can bolster human, social, economic, and environmental capital, requiring support throughout all life stages and fostering inclusive societies for all ages.
• The Longitudinal Aging Study of India aims to gather comprehensive data on the elderly's social, economic, and health conditions.
• Government initiatives include programs like Integrated Programme for Older Persons (IPOP), Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana (RVY), and others to support elderly citizens.

Maternal Care:

• Maternal health plays a pivotal role in sustainable development, promoting equity, reducing poverty, and addressing larger economic and social challenges.
• The Sustainable Development Goal 3 focuses on reducing maternal mortality ratio (MMR) to 70 per 100,000 live births.
• Initiatives like Janani Suraksha Yojana and Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakaram aim to encourage institutional deliveries, crucial for maternal health.
• The Midwifery initiative seeks to create skilled nurses to provide compassionate care for women's reproductive, maternal, and newborn health.

Healthcare's Role in Reducing Social Exclusion:

• Healthcare significantly impacts employment, working conditions, household income, and plays a pivotal role in promoting local and national sustainable development goals.

Q14: “The incidence and intensity of poverty are more important in determining poverty based on income alone”. In this context analyse the latest United Nations Multidimensional Poverty Index Report. (Social Justice)
Ans: According to the World Bank, poverty refers to significant deprivation in well-being, encompassing various dimensions such as low incomes and the inability to access necessary goods and services for a dignified life.

• A prevalent method to gauge poverty relies on income or consumption levels, categorizing households as poor if their income falls below a specific threshold. The World Bank sets this threshold at living under $1 income/day, while in India, the Rangarajan committee (2014) defines poverty based on Monthly Per Capita Expenditure.
• The poverty ratio measures poverty incidence based on income, but it fails to represent the disparity in poverty levels among the poor. Intensity of poverty quantifies how far the poor are from the poverty line.
• However, income-based assessments offer a quantitative evaluation by counting those below the poverty line, lacking a qualitative aspect.

UN’s Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI)

• MPI recognizes that poverty extends beyond income, encompassing various basic needs like education and health. It evaluates poverty using Education, Health, and Living Standards, presenting scores between 0-1.
• According to the MPI 2020 report, around 1.3 billion people globally live in multidimensional poverty, with a disproportionate impact on children, where half of the multidimensionally poor are under 18.
• In India, with an MPI score of 0.123 and 27.9% headcount, the country ranks 62nd among 107 nations in the MPI report. Approximately 19.3% of India's population is vulnerable to multidimensional poverty.
• The MPI findings highlight that between 2005-06 and 2015-16, India uplifted around 270 million people from multidimensional poverty. It also reveals the significant impact of COVID-19 on the development landscape.
• MPI methodology identifies specific deprivations among the poor, aiding policymakers in targeting resources and devising more effective policies. It's adaptable to reflect local factors, making it a valuable tool for measuring Multidimensional Poverty at national levels.

Q15: “Micro-Finance as an anti-poverty vaccine, is aimed at asset creation and income security of the rural poor in India”. Evaluate the role of the Self Help Groups in achieving the twin objectives along with empowering women in rural India. (Social Justice)
Ans: Micro-Finance provides financial services to underserved individuals who lack access to traditional formal financial institutions. In rural India, where moneylenders have historically dominated the credit market, micro-finance plays a crucial role in addressing the credit needs of the impoverished and breaking the cycle of debt by encouraging income-generating activities.

Micro-Finance: An Anti-poverty Solution

• Microfinance services enhance resource allocation, market promotion, and technology adoption, thereby fostering economic growth and development. 
• They aid economically excluded communities in creating assets and ensuring income security at both household and community levels. Micro-finance focuses on providing capital to small entrepreneurs.
• To support Micro-Finance, the government initiated programs like NABARD and MUDRA loans. MUDRA offers refinance support to Banks/NBFCs for lending to micro units needing loans up to Rs. 10 lakh.

Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and Micro-Finance

• SHGs are informal associations aimed at improving living conditions. They have emerged as effective channels for delivering microfinance services, especially to women. The genesis of SHGs in India can be traced back to the establishment of the Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA) in 1972.
• SHGs engage in income-generating activities like farming, small businesses, handicrafts, and weaving, empowering women economically and boosting their self-esteem. For instance, the Kudumbashree SHG in Kerala has established a three-tier community network led by Community Development Societies (CDSs) of underprivileged women.
• One of Kudumbashree's successful ventures is Café Kudumbashree, consisting of women-run cafes and catering services. The Kudumbashree women manage over 30,000 enterprises with an annual turnover of Rs. 1090 million.
• Financial inclusion supported by Micro-Finance Institutions (MFIs) plays a vital role in achieving equitable and sustainable rural development in India. It strengthens the country's ability to achieve rapid economic growth while focusing on poverty reduction and women's empowerment.

Q16: National Education Policy 2020 is in conformity with the Sustainable Development Goal-4 (2030). It intends to restructure and reorient education system in India. Critically examine the statement.(Social Justice)
Ans: Recently, the Government introduced the New Education Policy (NEP) 2020 to replace the National Policy on Education from 1986. The Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4 aims to “Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all by 2030”.

Is NEP aligned with SDG 4?

• Promoting free primary and secondary education, universal literacy, and numeracy (SDG 4.1 and 4.6): NEP targets achieving education for all from preschool to secondary level, aiming for a 100% Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) in school education by 2030. The Policy also plans to extend the Right to Education (RTE) to all children up to 18 years old.
• Eliminating discrimination in education (SDG 4.5): NEP focuses on reintegrating 2 crore out-of-school children into the mainstream through an open schooling system.
• Ensuring equal access to quality pre-primary education (SDG 4.2): The Policy acknowledges the significance of early childhood development by integrating the uncovered age group of 3-6 years into the school curriculum, offering three years of Anganwadi/pre-schooling.
• Providing equal access to vocational and tertiary education (SDG 4.3): NEP emphasizes Vocational Education from Class 6 with internships, introduces a flexible undergraduate curriculum with multiple exit options and proper certification, establishes a National Research Foundation to bolster research, and creates the National Educational Technology Forum (NETF) to facilitate the exchange of ideas and technology.
• Substantially increasing qualified teachers' supply (SDG 4.C): By 2022, NEP plans to develop National Professional Standards for Teachers (NPST) through collaboration with NCERT, SCERTs, teachers, and expert organizations, aiming to enhance the number of qualified educators across levels and regions.

NEP 2020 holds promise in significantly impacting society's socio-economic structure as anticipated by SDG-4. However, its successful implementation, coupled with adequate funding, will be crucial for its success.