26 April 2014

Answer ALL the questions in about 200 words

Q1. Write a note on human pluripotent stem cells (iPSC). How these cells are
different from human embryonic stem cells (hESC)? Examine. (GS III- Science and
Technology- Medical development)
The Hindu
Ans: Stem cells are found in multicellular organisms. The two broad
types of stem cells in mammals are: embryonic stem cells and adult
stem cells.
Human embryonic stem cells (hESC): These are derived from eggs
fertilized through in-vitro fertilization and not in womans body.
Obtaining it results in destruction or manipulation of embryo.
Involvement of such technique raises ethical issues. Therefore, these
research and therapy practices have remained controversial.
Advantages over iPSC are: hESC have unlimited capacity of self
renewal. These can give rise to almost all of the cell types of body:
muscle, nerve, heart, blood, etc. It holds key solutions for diseases like
cancer, heart disease, diabetes, etc.
Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells or iPSC: Pluripotent means having
ability to diffrentiate into all derivative of cells. Such cells have
unlimited capacity of self renewal and generate all cell types of organs.
iPSCs are directly derived from adult stem cells. iPSCs are genetically
reprogrammed to behave like embryonic stem cells. Viruses are
currently used to introduce reprogramming factors. This must be
carefully controlled and tested before the technique can lead to useful
treatments for humans. iPSCs are already useful tools for drug
development. Moreover these are readily being used in personalized
drug discovery tests and understanding the patient specific reason of
diseases. However, additional research is needed.
Thus, stem cell research has opened up new avenues in the field of
medicine and health care and holds great promise for the benefit of
mankind.

Q2. Explain the differences between estuary and delta. Give examples with reference
to India and explain why certain rivers form estuary but not delta in India. (GS IGeography- River/ Landforms)
The Hindu
Ans: An Estuary is a partly enclosed coastal body of brackish water
with one or more rivers or streams flowing into it, and with free
connection to open sea while a Delta is a landform that forms at the
mouth of a river, where the river flows into an ocean, sea, estuary,
lake, or reservoir. Deltas form from deposition of sediment carried by a
river as the flow leaves its mouth. An estuary is different from the delta
in following ways:
The rivers with high tidal flow form estuaries whereas river with
lower tides form deltas.
Estuaries do not witness deposition of sediments whereas deltas
deposit fertile alluvial sediments.
In case of estuary there is mostly one channel through which river
enter the sea whereas in case of deltas river through numerous
streams enters the sea.
The gradient at the location of an estuary is steep and deep
whereas at deltas, it is gentle and shallow.
Unlike the estuaries the delta are very fertile region as well as a
destructive region due to the flooding of floodplains.
The gradient is one of the major factor determining the formation of
estuary or a delta. Fast flowing rivers restrict the deposition of
sediments and form an estuary. The terrain through which river flows
also determine the amount of sediment it carries and ultimately
forming deltas or estuaries.
In India, west flowing river like Narmada, Tapi and many small streams
along west coast form estuaries. This is because
They flow through rift valleys and a terrain that is devoid of
alluvium. Hence the load is substantially reduced

 Secondly, rivers arriving into a sea with high tidal range will not
form deltas because the changes in the tidal area will wash away
the sediments brought by the river.
East flowing rivers like Ganga, Mahanadi, Godavari form extensive
deltas because
They flow through an area rich in alluvium and load is much higher
compared to west flowing rivers.
Since the east course is primarily an emerged coast, the influx of
sea water into the mouth of the river is considerably lower; this
facilitates deposition of sediments leading to delta formation.
Q3. Comment on the growing relationship between China and Sri Lanka. Should
India be worried? Why? Substantiate. (GS II- International relations)
The Hindu
Ans: The uneasy trianglular relation between India, China and Sri Lanka is poised to shift
towards a closer binary alliance between China and Sri Lanka. While this may be viewed
as an extension of Chinas String of Pearls strategy to counter Americas increasing
maritime clout in the Indian Ocean, greater ramifications await India.
The highlights of the warming ties between these two nations include:
China and Sri Lanka in 2013 signed the Strategic Cooperative Partnership
(SCP) Agreement. The SCP covers a whole range issues including bilateral trade,
investment, financial assistance and strategic cooperation providing to benefit both
the countries.
China is now poised to overtake India as Sri Lanka's biggest trading partner despite
Sri Lanka benefitting from the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with India.Even without
the FTA, China's bilateral trade figures reached nearly 50 per cent of the Indian
figure.
Sri Lanka has positively responded to China's keenness to promote Maritime Silk
Route' (MSR) through the Indian Ocean to further its own strategic interests in the
region.
China hopes to improve the economic viability of Chinese investments in ports like
Hambantota in Sri Lanka. In August 2013, another massive Chinese built port has
become operational in Colombo.
China had been strictly adhering to its policy of non-interference in internal affairs of
other countries. This has enabled it to consistently support Sri Lanka in the UNHRC
over the war crimes allegations.
These are enough reasons for India to worry. However, a regime change in Indian polity
has given a fresh face to the waning ties between India and China. India provides an
infrastructure hungry market with huge scope for investments compared to its island

neighbour. China would do good to take advantage of the present circumstances. Also,
the backdrop of the BRICS summit in Brazil and the visit of the Chinese President to
India have further cooled tensions between the two nations. Moreover, trading with India
is still advantageous for Sri Lanka as its export to India has grown six fold by 2013 unlike
its minuscule share in trade with China.
Thus, a precarious situation at present may transform into an advantageous strategic and
economic alliance should all participating players make an effort towards inclusive
dialogue.

Q4. What were the main recommendations of Justice Verma Committee which was
constituted to recommend amendments to the Criminal Law so as to provide for
quicker trial and enhanced punishment for criminals accused of committing sexual
assault against women? Do you think governments anti rape law is harsher than
Justice Verma committees recommendations? Examine. (GS II- PolityCommittees/Laws/ Bills)
The Hindu
Ans: Justice Verma Committee was constituted to review the criminal
laws, trial system and punishments of the criminals in relation to
crimes against women. The major recommendation of the committee
include:
It recommended life imprisonment of the criminal for rape. It has
rejected the proposal for chemical castration as it fails to treat the
social foundations of rape. It opined that death penalty should not
be awarded for the offence of rape as there was considerable
evidence that death penalty was not a deterrence to serious
crimes.
The panel recognised the need to curb all forms of sexual offences
and recommended Voyeurism be punished with upto seven years
in jail, attempts to contact a person repeatedly through any means
by up to three years. Acid attacks would be punished by up to
seven years if imprisonment; trafficking will be punished with RI for
seven to ten years.
The panel proposed amendment to the Code of Criminal
Procedure enabling women to full access to justice. It has also
recommended a special procedure for protecting persons with
disabilities from rape, and requisite procedures for access to justice
for such persons,

 It has suggested a separate bill of rights for women to a life of

dignity and security.
It has said there is an imminent need to review the continuance of
AFSPA in areas as soon as possible. It has also recommended
posting special commissioners for womens safety in conflict areas.
The committee also opined enhanced role of judiciary. The Chief
Justice of India could be approached to commence appropriate
proceedings on the judicial side for faster trials.
The committee has also made wide range of recommendations on
various reforms such as police reforms, education, political reforms
etc.
The Anti Rape Bill which came into force called the Criminal Law
(Amendment) Act, 2013, incorporates suggestions of the Justice J.S
Verma Committee. For example the new law states that an offender
can be sentenced to rigorous imprisonment for a term which shall not
be less than 20 years, but which may extend to life, meaning
imprisonment for the remainder of the convicts natural life and with a
fine. It has more stringent action in comparison to Verma committee as
it has provision of death sentence to offenders who may have been
convicted earlier for such crimes. The new bill also has provision of ten
years jail for acid attackers as prescribed by the committee. It is seen
that the new act has some stricter action in comparison to Verma
committee in certain respect.

Q5. Judicial activism, keeping in view the ideals of democracy, is necessary to

ensure that unheard voices are not buried by more influential and vocal ones.
Comment. (GS II- Polity/Judiciary)
The Hindu
Ans: Justice has long been uprooted from the ivory towers of exclusiveness and made
accessible to every section of society through continued reforms and paradigm shifts in
justice delivery system in our country. The latest in the series of inclusive measures is
judicial activism, a tool vociferously used to look beyond the realm of mere witnesses
and evidences at face value.
Judicial activism means active role played by judiciary. Judicial activism
implies going beyond the normal constraints applied to judges and the
constitution, to strike down any legislature or rule which goes against
constitution or failed to provide human rights and good governance.
Public interest litigation (PIL) is an unexceptional case of judicial
activism, invented to draw the attention of the court to the deprived
conditions of certain sections of society like pavement dwellers,
undertrial prisoners, and bonded labourers. Its landmark judgments
regarding reopening dance bars, generic drugs, prevent ragging of

college fresher, NOTA, for collection and storage in blood banks, status
of transgender have been important for the marginalized section of
society.
Supreme Court ordered control over traffic and in New Delhi, and for
control of loudspeakers and banning of fire crackers, SEBI-Sahara
dispute, the IPL betting case, the challenge to Section 377 of the IPC
and most recently the cancellation of illegal coal blocks allocated over
the years etc. have been seen as judicial activism.
In all cases, we can see that the Legislature and the Executive fail in
their responsibility or try to avoid it, then the judicial activism has a
role to play. In other words, judicial activism is to be viewed as a
damage control exercise, in which sense, it is only a temporary
phase.
But to sustain the legitimacy of judicial activism, courts should not
submit to populism, but it should use capacity to withstand such
pressure without sacrificing impartiality and objectivity. The Courts are
not above the Constitution.
The judiciary should not create policies to enforce rights but must
require the government to draft its own policy and submit it along with
a timetable for execution. The finalization of this plan must be only
after the judiciary has heard objections from other interested parties.

Q6. What do you understand by the concept inclusive innovation? Examine the
relationship between inclusive innovation and inclusive growth strategy. (GS IIIEconomic Development)
The Indian Express
Reference 1
Ans: India aims to achieve Faster, Sustainable and more inclusive
growth with the 12th FYP. But inclusive growth may not be achieved
without inclusive innovation.
Inclusive innovationInclusive innovation is any innovation that leads to affordable access
to quality goods and services for the poor on a sustainable
basis and with extensive outreach. It increase the purchasing
power and enhance income-generating opportunities for the poor
population.

ExamplesSupreme Courts recent judgment in denying the extension of patent to

Pharma major Naxavar, gave a major relief to poor cancer patients. It
favored the generic drug companies which provide low cost treatment.
Ciplas $1-a-day anti- HIV medication is also a great inclusive
innovation. Aakash tablet for poor students, solar powered lights and
chulha in distant villages, local water purifiers, Claymade refrigerators,
indigenous home treatments, Jugaad (for local transport) are few
examples of Indian innovation that helped most of the poor people.
There is no meaning of innovation that benefits only small section of
people excluding a large percentage of the populace.
Future course of actionUnfortunately, innovation by poor and marginalized people is not
recognized much in our formal economy sector.there is need of an
innovation ecosystem that is open, inclusive and diverse.
An integrated national inclusive innovation policy and required
institutional system should be established. Dedicated support to
grassroots innovators to deepen and expand their innovation capacity.
We have to implement the New Science, Technology and
Innovation (STI) policy 2013 to give opportunity to more people to
participate in the research and innovation. National Innovation Council
is planning to establish the India Inclusive Innovation Fund so that
innovative enterprise can profitably, measurably, and competitively
engage economic backward but innovative citizens.

Q7. Write a note on the India Inclusive Innovation Fund (IIIF). (GS III- Economic
development)
Business Line (related to above question)
Ans: India Inclusive Fund (IIF) is Rs. 500 crore corpus jointly held by
National Innovation Council and Ministry of Small and Medium
Industries which is envisioned to be used in promoting innovative
ideas and schemes that seek to solve the problems of people at large.
The IIF is designed under SEBIs Alternative Investment Fund
Category-I guidelines and will invest into those projects measurable,
sustainable and thereafter profitable. Hence, instead of philanthropic

model of development of people at low economy base, the IIF plans to

make it a capital intensive and profit making venture.
The projects in areas such as health, education, food, agriculture will
get the required funding to kick start. The corpus in expected to be
grown upto Rs. 2000 crore in next 24 months to cater the needs of the
entire country.
Lack of capital is the major reason why many projects seeking to
address the needs of people at lower strata are failed. The IIF
refreshingly provides a channel to fund those ventures which promise
and implement certain improvements in basic needs of the people.