UPSC Essentials | Mains answer practice — GS 2 : Questions on Safety for women and impacts of lateral entry (Week 67)

QUESTION 2

Discuss the potential impacts of lateral entry into the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) on the bureaucratic structure and governance in India.

General points on the structure of the answers

Introduction

— The introduction of the answer is essential and should be restricted to 3-5 lines. Remember, a one-liner is not a standard introduction.

— It may consist of basic information by giving some definitions from the trusted source and authentic facts.

Body

— It is the central part of the answer and one should understand the demand of the question to provide rich content.

— The answer must be preferably written as a mix of points and short paragraphs rather than using long paragraphs or just points.

— Using facts from authentic government sources makes your answer more comprehensive. Analysis is important based on the demand of the question, but do not over analyse.

QUESTION 1: India has emphasised the need for faster justice and improved safety for women in India. Discuss.

Introduction:

— The term ‘violence against women’ refers to any act of gender-based violence that causes or is likely to cause physical, sexual, or psychological harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion, or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether committed in public or private life.

— Narendra Modi, the Indian Prime Minister, has advocated for the prompt resolution of cases involving crimes against women, stating that “the faster decisions are made” in such situations, “the greater the assurance of safety for half the population.”

Body:

Government’s initiatives

Fast-track special courts

— It was introduced in 2019. Incidents of sexual offences and lengthy trials of accused required specific court apparatus to provide prompt relief to victims. District monitoring committees can play an essential role, and members include the district judge, district magistrate, and superintendent of police.

Constitutional protection for women

— The Indian Constitution not only guarantees women’s equality, but it also authorises the state to use positive discrimination measures in their favour in order to offset the accumulated socioeconomic, educational, and political disadvantages they suffer.

— Article 14 guarantees men and women equal rights and opportunities in the political, economic, and social arenas.

— Article 15 bans discrimination against any citizen on the basis of religion, race, caste, or gender; nevertheless, Article 15(3) includes a unique provision allowing the State to make affirmative discrimination in favour of women.

— Similarly, Article 16 ensures that all citizens have equal opportunities in governmental positions.

— Article 39(a) states that the State shall direct its policies towards ensuring the right to a means of livelihood for all people, men and women alike, while Article 39(c) guarantees equal compensation for equal effort.

— Article 42 requires the state to make provisions for providing reasonable and humane working conditions and maternity leave.

— Above all, the Constitution imposes a fundamental duty on every citizen to abandon activities that are insulting to women’s dignity under Article 51 (A)(e).

National Commission for Women

— The government has established a statutory body known as the National Commission for Women (NCW) with the specific mandate of studying and monitoring all matters relating to the constitutional and legal safeguards provided to women; reviewing existing legislation to suggest amendments where necessary; and investigating complaints involving deprivation of women’s rights.

Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005

— It provides remedies for dealing with domestic violence under the criminal law.

National Policy for the Empowerment of Women

— The National Policy aims to advance, develop, and empower women by changing cultural attitudes towards them, eliminating all types of discrimination against women, and ensuring women’s active involvement in all aspects of life and activities. The Policy emphasises the need to address cultural attitudes and community activities that discriminate against women.

Conclusion:

— In his speech, the Prime Minister also emphasised that the Supreme Court’s 75-year journey is a journey of India’s Constitution, its ideals, and India’s evolution as a democracy. “People of India have never shown disbelief towards the Supreme Court or the judiciary.” he stated! “Judiciary is considered the guardian of our democracy.”

— The Prime Minister urged the district judiciary to be trained in the new system and proposed that judges and lawyers participate in the campaign. “Our lawyers and bar associations have an important role in making the public familiar with this new system.”

(Source: Modi: Crimes against women, children’s safety serious concern, ensure swift justice by Ananthakrishnan G, http://www.mha.gov.in, pib.gov.in)

Points to Ponder

Read about Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005

Role of National Commission for Women

Working of fast track court

Related Previous Year Questions

“Though women in post-Independent India have excelled in various fields, the social attitude towards women and feminist movement has been patriarchal.” Apart from women education and women empowerment schemes, what interventions can help change this milieu? (2021)

‘To ensure effective implementation of policies addressing water, sanitation and hygiene needs, the identification of beneficiary segments is to be synchronised with the anticipated outcomes’. Examine the statement in the context of the WASH scheme. (2017)

QUESTION 2: Discuss the potential impacts of lateral entry into the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) on the bureaucratic structure and governance in India.

Introduction:

— Recently, an advertisement for lateral entrance into UPSC for 45 positions (director, secretary, and joint secretary) with no provision for the reservation was broadcast.

— The lack of reservation would prevent us from participating in decision-making bodies, reducing us to the status of mere dependents. Reservation ensures our presence alongside the “dominant few” in social institutions, making them more inclusive.

— The Lateral entry is based on specific requisitions from various ministries, and it does not affect the number of seats available for direct recruitment through UPSC.

Body:

Impacts of lateral entry on the bureaucratic structure and governance in India

— The advertisement contradicts the Indian concept of antyodaya, which seeks to emancipate the last person in queue by establishing a structure that allows for their empowerment and representation in the bureaucracy, government, and judiciary.

— The concept of lateral entry introduces new and diverse viewpoints, as well as new techniques to gaining a nuanced understanding of the issues at hand, and represents a shift away from traditional modes of governance.

— When interviewing for these professions, interviewers must have a clear mind or wear a veil of ignorance; they must distance themselves from their social positions and/or caste location. Assessing the social mix of individuals recruited should be normal practice, as should actions to address the inescapable social inequity that pervades all environments.

— The ST and SC communities are already under-represented at these levels. Reservation provides a fair chance at opportunity when our starting point differs and is influenced by our caste location.

— Bringing in ‘outsiders,’ particularly those with technical specialisations, can help to strengthen the bureaucratic system. For example, when dealing with legislative issues concerning genetically modified seeds, the expertise of a microbiologist is crucial.

Conclusion:

— Lateral entry for specialist positions should prioritize efficiency over equity.

— An efficient bureaucracy is ultimately more effective in delivering social justice than reserving specialized jobs for particular categories.

— The focus should remain on bringing in the best talent to serve the public interest effectively.

(Source: Lateral entry in UPSC will further distance marginalised from centres of power by Aditi Narayani Paswan, Is lateral entry a disadvantage for Civil Services? by Manas Srivastava)

Points to Ponder

What are the advantages of lateral entry?

Is lateral entry a disadvantage for Civil Services or UPSC aspirants?

Related Previous Year Question

The crucial aspect of development process has been the inadequate attention paid to Human Resource Development in India. Suggest measures that can address this inadequacy. (2023)

Previous Mains Answer Practice

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 65)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 66)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 66)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 65)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 67)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 66)

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