The provision of amending the constitution and upgrading it from time to time as per the present conditions of the society makes the Constitution a living document. The ‘right to life and personal liberty’ as mentioned under Article 21, is a prime example of this, with new facets of it been discovered with time.

Dynamism of the Indian Constitution

▪️Abolition of Privy Purse: By the 26th Amendment, the Constitution took a socially progressive step and took away the privileges of past rulers as a step to improve equality.

▪️Increasing the Lok Sabha Seats: As the population grows, the number of seats need to be increased respectively, to ensure proper representation.

▪️Basic Structure Doctrine: The iconic Keshvananda Bharti case and the subsequent development of ‘basic structure doctrine’ shows the dynamism of Constitution.

New horizons under Article 21

▪️Right to Privacy: In the Justice K.S. Puttaswamy (Retd.) vs Union of India case (2017), the Supreme Court declared this right as intrinsic to Article 21.

▪️Right to Shelter: This was recognised as a right in Rajesh Yadav vs State of UP, where the Court said that it’s the duty of the state to grant house sites to the residents.

▪️Transgenders Rights: Introduced in NALSA vs Union of India case (2014), it reaffirmed their rights to liberty, dignity and freedom from discrimination.

▪️Right to Die with Dignity: In Common Cause vs Union of India judgement, the Supreme Court legalised physician-assisted suicide (PAS), often known as passive euthanasia, stating that it is included in Article 21.

The Constitution has evolved through time via various amendments that have been carried out. The increasing horizons of the ‘right to life and personal liberty’ that have opened up under Article 21 are a testimony to the progressive nature of the Indian Constitution

Q11.Most of the unemployment in India is structural in nature. Examine the methodology adopted to compute unemployment in the country and suggest improvements.

#GS3 #EconomicDevelopment #Polity

Structural unemployment is basically an involuntary unemployment that occurs because of a structural change in the economy, such as the development of a new technology or industry or due to the mismatch in skills possessed by the populations and the job available in the market.
Major reasons for structural unemployment in India include labour market rigidities, geographic mismatch, agriculture dependency, infrastructure bottlenecks, and regulatory challenges.

Methodology adopted to compute unemployment in the country
Computation by NSSO using:

▪️Current Weekly Status (CWS): Under this, a shorter reference period of a week is adopted. Individuals are counted as employed if they have worked for at least one hour on at least one day in the preceding seven days. For example, Labour Force Participation Rate in CWS in urban areas for persons aged 15 years and above increased to 48.2 per cent in the October-December quarter of 2022.

▪️Usual Principal and Subsidiary Status (UPSS): It is determined based on the activity one spent the most time in the previous year.

▪️Current Daily Status: It indicates the number of people who did not find work for one or more days in a week.

▪️Labor Bureau Surveys: Labor Bureau conducts survey to obtain data on unemployment and employment in India. For example, All-India Quarterly Establishment-based Employment Survey (AQEES).

Way forward

▪️Increase in Frequency of Surveys: It is important to ensure timeliness and updating of the surveys as increased frequency provides better understanding of changing employment trends.

▪️Modernizing Agriculture: Increase in investment in agriculture could have a multiplier effect through backward and forward linkages, e.g., promoting cold storages.

▪️Incorporation of Informal Sector: More than 80 percent of the labour force is employed in informal sector which needs to be incorporated in the formal sector.

▪️Seasonal Adjustments: Improve seasonal adjustment techniques to account for the impact of agriculture and other seasonal employment trends.

To conclude, it is high time that certain computational methodologies need to be enhanced to envisage making India as one of the largest economies and nurture the rich demographic dividends with few bottlenecks and unemployment hurdles.

Q11. You have just been appointed as Additional Director General of the Central Public Works Department. The Chief Architect of your division, who is to retire in six months, is passionately working on a very important project, the successful completion of which would earn him a lasting reputation for the rest of his life. A new lady architect. Seema, trained at Manchester School of Architecture, UK joined as Senior Architect in your division. During the briefing about the project, Seema made some suggestions which would not only add value to the project, but would also reduce completion time. This has made the Chief Architect insecure and he is constantly worried that all the credit will go to her. Subsequently, he adopted a passive and aggressive behavior towards her and has become disrespectful to her. Seema felt it embarrassing as the Chief Architect left no chance of humiliating her. He would very often correct her in front of other colleagues and raise his voice while speaking to her. This continuous harassment has resulted in her losing confidence and self- esteem. She felt perpetually tense, anxious and stressed. She appeared to be in awe of him since he has had a long tenure in the office and has vast experience in the area of her work. You are aware of her outstanding academic credentials and career record in her previous organizations. However, you fear that this harassment may result in compromising her much needed contribution in this important project and may adversely impact her emotional well-being. You have also come to know from her peers that aho is contemplating tendering her resignation.
(a) What are the ethical issues involved in the above case?
(b) What are the options available to you in order to complete the project as well as to retain Seema in the organization?
(c) What would be your response to Seema's predicament? What measures would you institute to prevent such occurrences from happening in your organization?

#GS4 #Ethics #CSM23

(a): 

▪️Workplace Harassment (Dignity and Respect): The Chief Architect's humiliation and disrespectful behavior towards Seema violate her dignity and create a hostile work environment.

▪️Professional Jealousy (Collaboration and Teamwork): The Chief Architect's insecurity and unwillingness to collaborate with Seema hinder the project's success and compromise teamwork.

▪️Impact on Emotional Well-being (Employee Well-being): Seema's continuous humiliation and stress due to the Chief Architect's behavior adversely affect her emotional well-being, hindering her productivity.

▪️Ethical Leadership Failure (Ethical Conduct): The Chief Architect's unethical conduct, including belittling a competent colleague, reflects a failure in ethical leadership within the organization.

(b): 

▪️Mediation: Facilitate a private conversation to resolve conflicts between the Chief Architect and Seema.

▪️Collaborative Task Delegation: Assign specific project tasks to Seema and the Chief Architect based on their strengths and expertise, promoting collaboration and accelerating project completion.

(c): In response to Seema's predicament:

▪️Mentorship and Support: Assuring Seema that her contributions are valued while providing emotional support to boost her confidence.

▪️Idea Incubator: Create an "Idea Incubator" platform where employees, including Seema, can propose innovative project ideas. Recognize and reward contributors, fostering a culture of creativity.
To prevent such occurrences in the organization:

▪️Fair Evaluation: Ensure recognition is based on merit through unbiased performance evaluations.

▪️Zero-Tolerance Policy: Implement and communicate a strict anti-harassment policy to foster a safe work environment.

▪️Anonymous Reporting: Establish an anonymous reporting mechanism for employees to safely report harassment or conflicts without fear of retaliation.

The Delhi Sultanate, a 320-year Islamic empire in Delhi (1206-1526), reached its zenith under Muhammad bin Tughluq, expanding its rule across most of the Indian subcontinent. This period witnessed several pivotal technological advancements, reshaping various facets of Indian society.

Major technological changes introduced during the sultanate period:

▪️Agriculture and Irrigation: Sophisticated irrigation systems, like Hauz-i-Shamsi, and water-lifting devices, like Persian wheel, improved water management and crop cultivation.

▪️Architecture and Construction: Indian and Islamic architectural styles fused, creating Indo-Islamic architecture. Qutub Minar is an example.

▪️Trade and Commerce: Standardized coinage, like Silver Tanka and Copper Jital, facilitated trade.

▪️Military Technology: Fortified cities and forts, like Tughlaqabad Fort, improved defense capabilities. They showcased architectural innovations in military engineering.

▪️Intelligence Network: Sultan Alauddin Khilji had a secret intelligence network called the “Barid-i-Mumlikat.”

These changes influenced Indian society in many ways, such as:

▪️Agrarian Expansion: Improved irrigation systems expanded agricultural lands, leading to the growth of rural communities.

▪️Cultural Syncretism: The blending of Indian and Islamic architectural styles and artistic forms fostered cultural syncretism.

▪️Numismatic Identity: Standardized coinage helped establish a unified numismatic identity across regions.

▪️Military Infrastructure Legacy: The architectural innovations in military engineering left a lasting legacy of strategic planning and engineering expertise.

▪️Intellectual Growth: Manuscript production and knowledge dissemination played a crucial role in the intellectual growth of the society.

▪️Intelligence Heritage: The secret intelligence network laid the groundwork for a tradition of espionage and information gathering.

The technological changes of the Sultanate period reshaped India’s culture, economy, and defense. They fostered prosperity and resilience, leaving an enduring legacy of innovation and adaptation.

Since the emergence of the feminism movement in late 18th century, gender sensitivity and general awareness about its significance in our society has come a long way. India’s history shows a deep consciousness for gender sensitivity that translated into its Constitution as well.

Constitutional provisions

▪️Article 14 considers citizens to be of equal status before the law.

▪️Article 15 prohibits discrimination on various grounds including ‘sex’.
Article 16 provides equal opportunity to citizens in matters of employment.

▪️Article 39 mentions state’s commitment towards equality of pay for women.

▪️Article 42 asks the state to work for ensuring just and humane conditions of work and maternity relief.

Case laws

▪️Mary Roy v. State of Kerala: The Court ensured equal right of females and males over ancestral property succession.

▪️Lata Singh v. State of Uttar Pradesh: The Court stated a girl’s complete right to marry a person of her own choice.

▪️Laxmi v. Union of India: This PIL by an acid attack survivor ended up with declaration of acid as a poison banning its sale. The Court also ordered that no hospital could refuse treatment to an acid attack victim.

▪️Shayara Bano v. Union of India: This landmark judgement declared the practice of triple talaq against the right to equality under Article 14 of the Constitution as the woman has no say, and the divorce is processed without her consent.
The Indian legal and judicial perspective is one that places a lot of significance at equalising the gender landscape for equal opportunity and ensuring gender justice in its population.

The ‘care economy’ and ‘monetized economy’ deal with nature and value of the work and are two different aspects of economic activities.
Care economy refers to the unpaid or underpaid work related to caregiving and providing social support, often performed within households. For example, childcare, eldercare, domestic work etc. Inter alia, it also involves paid labour encompassing nurses, caregivers, etc. (often females). The compensation is generally absent or very meagre compensation is awarded for such activities. It is highly undervalued even though it supports human development and social cohesion.
Monetized economy includes all economic activities that are dealt with in terms of monetary value, which includes production of goods, e.g., finance, trade, etc. It is mainly aimed at profit generation. The compensation is received in terms of monetary value. Work done and goods produced in the economy are compensated in terms of wages, salaries, etc. It is assessed by its contribution to GDP and is often used as a measure of economic growth.

Ways to integrate care economy into monetized economy through women empowerment

▪️Social protection measures are required that provide income security for women in caregiving roles. For example, pension insurance for women engaged in such roles.

▪️Development of skills for better transformation and incorporation of women into formal sector should be emphasized.

▪️Supportive government policies should be there to promote gender-neutral reforms and collaboration between government and civil society organizations in care giving economy.

▪️For example, National Creche Scheme for the Children of Working Mothers, enhancing of maternity benefits, etc.

▪️Technological solutions for care sector that reduces time and frees up women for formal sector employment can be considered.

▪️Integration of care economy into monetized economy will not only enhance economic opportunities for women but also contribute to a more inclusive and equitable society.

The arrival of colonial powers, especially the British, brought significant changes to the social, economic, and cultural fabric of these tribal societies. This impact was often marked by the displacement of tribal populations, land alienation, exploitation, and the erosion of traditional ways of life.
Impact of Colonial Rule on Tribals:

▪️Displacement and Land Alienation: One of the most significant impacts of colonial rule was the displacement and land alienation of tribal communities.

▪️Exploitative Labor Practices: Tribal communities were often subjected to exploitative labor practices. The British administration forced many tribes into labor-intensive activities such as mining, plantation work, and road construction.

▪️Cultural Erosion: The imposition of colonial laws, education systems, and religious practices led to the erosion of tribal cultures and traditions.

▪️Forest Policies: The British introduced forest policies that restricted tribal access to forests, which were vital for their livelihoods.

Tribal Responses to Colonial Oppression:

▪️Armed Resistance: Tribal communities mounted armed resistance against colonial rule. They organized rebellions and uprisings to protect their lands, cultures, and ways of life. Examples: Santhal Rebellion, Munda Rebellion, Koya Rebellion.

▪️Cultural Preservation: Some tribal communities focused on preserving their cultural heritage and traditions in the face of colonial influence.

▪️Guerrilla Warfare: Some tribal communities employed guerrilla warfare tactics to resist colonial forces. They utilized their knowledge of the local terrain and their familiarity with guerrilla warfare strategies.

Tribal responses to colonial oppression in India were diverse, including both armed resistance and non-violent movements aimed at safeguarding their rights, culture, and traditional way of life. These efforts have contributed to ongoing discussions and policies regarding tribal rights and development in modern India.

Article 356, colloquially referred to as President’s Rule, provides power to the union to take direct control of the state machinery in some instances where it believes that the state cannot continue normal functioning as per the provisions of the Constitution.
While it was believed to be a ‘dead letter’ that would seldom be used, it has been used more than 100 times in the past. But its usage in the recent past has been drastically reduced due to various political and legal factors.

▪️Factors for reduced frequency
S.R Bommai Case: This iconic case made the use of Article 356 more challenging.

It made the decision to impose the Article subject to judicial review and made ‘material evidence necessary’ to justify President’s rule.

▪️Finally, it provided the Court with the power to restore the state legislature if it isn't satisfied with the reasoning for the application of the Article in a state.

▪️Inter-Sate Councils: Their formation made relation between state and centre more cordial.

▪️Coalition Politics: With its emergence, the parties at the centre had to be more accommodative of the regional parties that were impowering the various other parties at the centre.

▪️Rise of Regional Parties: With the rise of strong regional political parties, misuse of Article 356 by the union government became increasingly difficult.

The reduced usage of Article 356 by application of various political and legal matters has made India a healthier, more federal democracy.

Changes in cropping patterns reflect the evolving demands of consumers, market dynamics and economic factors and are closely associated with changing consumption pattern and marketing dynamics.

Changing market conditions influencing cropping patterns

▪️Improved market access through better road and rail connectivity has expanded market access for farmers and thus, in turn, fuelled cultivation of certain crops.

▪️Availability of international markets for certain crops like Alphonso mango, basmati rice, etc. has led to their increased cultivation.

▪️Government initiatives like Minimum Support Price (MSP) mechanism incentivize the farmers to grow the crops covered under it.
The National Agriculture Market (e-NAM) was launched to provide for better price discovery and easy accessibility of market for the crop growers.

Changing consumption pattern influencing cropping patterns

▪️With rising income and urbanization, there is rising demand for protein-rich foods, fruits, vegetables, dairy, poultry, etc.

▪️Increased health consciousness has led to higher demand for organic and nutrient rich foods.

▪️With the rise in demand for chemical-free food, growth in hydroponics and aeroponics crops, has led to an increase in demand for exotic food.

▪️Change in cropping patterns are shaped by complex factors, including consumer preferences, market conditions, government policies, technological advancements, among others.