Upscportal Essay Guidance Programme for Ias Mains

7/31/2019 Upscportal Essay Guidance Programme for Ias Mains

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ESSAY GUIDANCE PROGRAMME

If you dont know how to write an essay, it can be a very difficult thing to do. Here is an approach to makin

writing an essay a more manageable task.

How to Start?

Before you start writing an essay, you need to decide three things. What are you writing about? What do yoimagine will be reading your essay? What do you want to tell them? A popular kind of essay is to offer your read

an opinion or argument. You can write a successful essay by starting off with a plan. The key to doing a successfessay is to break the writing down into short, simple steps.

DRAFT OF YOUR ESSAY

Introduction: Reread your introductory sentence. Add a one or two more sentences explaining your main ide

Remember that the job of your introductory paragraph is to get your readers attention.

Main Body: Reread you topic sentences. Each topic sentence now becomes the first sentence of a new paragrap

Add to the first sentence of each paragraph. Write two or three more sentences to each. Use these new sentences to support and explain your ideas. You can do this by offering facts, details, or examples. Remember that the job

your essay body is to share ideas with your reader. See if you can convince your reader to share your opinions.

Conclusion: Its time to write a final paragraphyour conclusion. A conclusion restates the main idea of yo

essay, and sums up what your essay is about. Do this in one or two sentences. Remember that the job of yoconclusions is to leave your reader with something to think about.

Facts about Essay

Essay is liberal writing Essay are not general knowledge There is limit on words and thoughts (analytical, not emotional) It is test of understanding not knowledge Some candidates do have feeling that philosophical topic are more paying. In fact, it is true to some extent

but the more relevant thing is that marks are not given on the choice of the topic, but on the presentation of

the topic. In the other question papers where the state of selection is maximum 100% there in the essay paper it is

600% (1 out of 6). The reason is that the examiner does not want the student leaves this question. The misfortune is that facility of option that has given to you as a blessing, the same becomes a curse for

you, if you have not accepted in the correct way. When the liberties are too many, then the chances ofconfusion increase.

In GS the facts are more important than style of expression whereas in the essays along with the facts, theexpression style is also important.

In the essay your general understanding is being examined while in GS your general knowledge is tested.Actually there is no opposition between knowledge and understanding. The M.Sc student of Agriculture ha

the knowledge related to agriculture while the farmer has understanding.

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While reading, he essay should not appear to have been written on the basis of facts, rather the facts werewritten according to the essay.

Essay should be according to the subject as:

India based: Importance of Indo-US Nuclear AgreementNaturally your language should be neutral and descriptive, means that there should be no flow of emotions in it,rather the facts should be presented straight away. Actually in such types of essays, the purpose of the topic is

important and the language takes a back seat.

Women based: Womens empowerment: Challenges & ProspectsThe essay is not on status or role of women but on a specialized aspect-on empowerment. To understand this essay

properly, you will have to divide it intoMeaning of empowerment, Need of women empowerment, various aspecof empowerment, challenges, some suggestions.

Society and Culture based: Indian society at the crossroads

This is a traditional topic, which is continuing from many years and further would be asked for many years. Youcan give it a new shape with your understanding. In this way you can analyze the relations between Society, Cultu

and Social Change.

Ethics and Morality base: The Modern living values

This is such an intensive topic events related to which are an everyday occurring. The incidents of Crime andViolence, increasing affinity for money, the expanding nature of consumerism, unfair trade practices and Jealous,

etc. can be read every day. You can take one or two of these features from newspaper, television or from cinema tobrighten up your essays.

Philosophical Thought based: When money sparks, the truth is silent

Remember that such essay should always be seen in connection with the present times. Such essays are abstract.They do not have a clear concrete form. Thus if you relate them to the events around you then its adds life to your

essay and also prevents you from deviation.

Here I mean to say that there is no such topic which cannot be connected to the present times. Here it is to be alert

that he entire essay should be revolve around contemporariness. It should be mentioned only as an example. Thecontext that is most relevant should be presented as a glimpse, not as a detailed description of the event.

As far as the language of the essay is concerned, it should be:

Easy and simple

Use less of exaggerated style Use minimum difficult words Tightness in the language Do not repeat the same thing Present all aspects Political, Social and Economic etc. Legible handwriting Underline important points Change the paragraph, wherever you feel that are thought / idea has been completed.

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PREVIOUS YEARS PAPER

Incredible India

1. My vision of India in 2001 AD. (1993)2. Whither Indian democracy? (1995)

3. The V.I.P. cult is a bane of Indian democracy. (1996)4. What we have not learnt during fifty years of Independence. (1997)

5. Indias contribution to world wisdom. (1998)6. Why should we be proud of being Indians? (2000)

7. What have we gained from out democratic set-up? (2001)8. How far has democracy in India delivered the goods? (2003)

9. Indias Role in Promoting ASEAN Co-operation. (2004)10. Importance of Indo-U.S. Nuclear Agreement (2006)

11. Globalization Would Finish Small-Scale Industries in India (2006)

12. Evaluation of Panchayati Raj Systems in India from the point of view of eradication of poverty to power topeople. (2007)13. National identity and patriotism. (2008)

14. Are we Soft State? (2009)15. Preparedness of our society of Indias global leadership role. (2010)

16. From traditional Indian philanthropy to the Gates-Buffett modela National progression or a paradigm? (2010)

Women and Child

1. Men have failed; let Women take over. (1993)2. The new emerging women-power: the ground realities. (1995)

3. Women is Gods best creation. (1998)4. Womens empowerment: Challenges and prospects. (1999)

5. Empowerment alone cannot help our women. (2001)6. Whither Womens Emancipation? (2004)

7. If women ruled the world. (2005)8. Womens Reservation Bill Would Usher in Empowerment for Women in India. (2006)

Society and Culture

1. Indian Society at the crossroads. (1994)2. Modernization and Westernization are not concepts. (1994)

3. Disinterested Intellectual curiosity is the life-real civilization. (1995)4. Urbanization is a blessing in disguise. (1997)

5. The composite culture of India. (1998)6. The youth culture today. (1999)

7. Mass media and culture invasion. (1999)8. Indian culture today: a myth or reality? (2000)

9. Modernism and our traditional socio-ethical values. (2000)10. Responsibility of Media in a democracy. (2002)

11. As civilization advances culture declines. (2003)

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12. Increasing Computerization Would lead to the Certain of Dehumanized Zociety. (2006)13. Attitude makes habit, habit makes character and character makes a man. (2007)14. How has satellite television brought about culture change in the Indian mindset? (2006)

15. Urbanisation and its hazards. (2008)16. Globalism vs. Nationalism. (2009)

Values Based

1. Compassion is the Basis of All Morality. (1993)2. Our deeds determine us, as much as we determine our deeds. (1995)3. Truth is lived, not taught. (1997)4. Truth religion cannot be misused. (1997)5. Value-based science and education. (1999)6. The march of science and the erosion of human values. (2001)7. Modern Technological Education and human values.8. Search for Truth can only be a spiritual problem. (2002)9. Spirituality and Scientific temper. (2003)10.The focus of health care in increasingly getting skewed towards the haves of our society. (2009)11.Are our traditional handicrafts doomed to a slow death? (2009)

Education Based

1. Restructuring of Indian Education System. (1995)

2. Literacy is growing very fast but there is no corresponding growth in education. (1996)3. Irrelevance of the classroom (2001)

4. Privatisation of Higher Education in India. (2001)5. What is real education? (2005)

6. Education of All Campaign in India: Myth of Reality. (2006)

7. Is an egalitarian society possible by educating the masses? (2008)

Philosophy Based

1. He who Reigns within himself and Rules his passions, Desires and Fears, is more than a King. (1993)2. Youth is a blunder, Manhood a struggle, Old age a regret. (1994)

3. A useful life is an early death. (1994)4. When money speaks, the truth is silent. (1995)

5. The modern doctor and his patients. (1997)6. The pursuit of excellence. (2001)

7. If youth knew, if age cold. (2002)

8. The paths of glory lead but to the grave. (2002)9. There is nothing either good or bad but thinking makes it to. (2003)10. The Lure of Space. (2004)

11. The hand that rocks the cradle. (2005)12. Independent thinking should be encouraged ring from the childhood. (2007)

13. Discipline means success, anarchy means ruin. (2008)14. Good fences make good neighbours. (2009)

15. Geography may remain the same; history need not. (2010)

Politics and Administration

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1. Economic Growth without Distributive Justice is bound to breed Violence. (1993)2. The Challenges before a Civil Servant today. (1994)3. Politics, Business and Bureaucracy-a fatal triangle. (1994)

4. Politics without ethic is a disaster. (1995)5. Need for transparency in Public Administration. (1996)

6. Greater political power alone will not improve womens plight. (1997)7. The misinterpretation and misuse of freedom in India. (1998)

8. The language problem in India: Its past, present and prospects. (1998)9. Reservations, politics and empowerment (1999)

10. How should a civil servant conduct himself? (2003)11. Judicial Activism and Indian Democracy (22004)

12. Justice must reach the poor. (2005)13. Is autonomy the best answer to combat balkanization? (2007)

14. Role of the media in good governance. (2008)

Current Based

1. The emerging Global Order, Political and Economic. (1993)

2. Ecological considerations need not hamper development. (1993)3. Computer: The Harbinger of a Silent Revolution. (1993)

4. Multinational CorporationsSaviours or Saboteurs. (1994)5. Restructuring of the U.N.O. to reflect present realities. (1996)

6. New cults and godmen a threat to traditional religious. (1996)7. Judicial activism. (1997)

8. The world of the twenty-first century. (1998)9. Resource management in the Indian context. (1999)

10. The cyberworld: Its charms and challenges. (2000)11. The countrys need for a better disaster management system. (2000)

12. The implications of globalisation for India (2000)

13. My vision of an ideal world order. (2001)14. The Masks of New Imperialism . (2003)15. Water Resources should be Under the Control of the Central Government. (2004)

16. Terrorism and world peace. (2005)17. Food security for sustainable national development. (2005)

18. Protection of Ecology and Environment is Essential for Sustained Economic Development. (2006)19. BPO boom in India. (2007)

20. Special Economic Zones: Boon or Bane. (2008)21. Should a moratorium be imposed on all fresh mining in tribal areas of the country? (2010)

Use Creative Sentences like Any judge/MP who seeks immunity from truth under the cover of the robe robs the right of We, the People

of India, the sovereign of Bharat.

The Court is an open book & if the Bench seeks an iron curtain between its economic interest & Litigantcommunity, it is violative of Glasnost (the policy of openness & transparency).

Democracy is an open book & if any public functionary seeks an iron curtain between its own interest & thpublic, it is violative of Glasnost.

In our murky world of gloom, greed & agony, our duty is to save the country of means of a compassionaterecipe & dedicated endevaours.

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hope....is defined by a farmer who ploughs his land when drought conditions prevail,by the blind who learncolors,young girl who steps into mamas high heels.

In the beginners mind there are many possibilities, in the experts mind there are few. Democracy is slow, painful but definite process. Look at the sky. We are not alone. The whole universe is friendly to us and conspires only to give the best

those who dream and work Sri Saraswati, Sri Lakshmi, Dri Durga are the deities of learning, Wealth and Valour. This is the highest

from of empowerment of women in India from vedic times. e have not invaded anyone. We have not conquered anyone. We have not grabbed their land, their culture,

their history and tried to enforce our way of life on them (Quotation by Abdul Kalam). Why are we, as a nation so obsessed with foreign things? Is it a legacy of our colonial years? We want

foreign television sets. We want foreign shirts. We want foreign technology. Why this obsession witheverything imported?

The ballot is stronger than the bullet. Let us draw inspiration from our great wise men of the past and the intellectual leadership of the present an

make the world exclaim. The Wonder that is India. You must not lose faith in humanity. Humanity is an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean

does not become dirty.

Man has been uniquely endowed in that he can contemplate on his mortality & sadly if we do not soonrealize that it is no longer a question of either development or environment but harmonius development ordoom, we may find that we should be the first species to orchestrate its own extinction.

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Pages From Our Categorized Essays Booklet

1. INDIA

Lokpal: Deficiencies in the present anti-corruption systems Central Government levelAt central Government level, there is Central Vigilance Commission, Departmental vigilance and CBI. CVC and

Departmental vigilance deal with vigilance (disciplinary proceedings) aspect of a corruption case and CBI dealswith criminal aspect of that case.

Central Vigilance Commission: CVC is the apex body for all vigilance cases in Government of India.

However, it does not have adequate resources commensurate with the large number of complaints that itreceives. CVC is a very small set up with a staff strength less than 200. It is supposed to check corruption i

more than 1500 central government departments and ministries, some of them being as big as CentralExcise, Railways, Income Tax etc. Therefore, it has to depend on the vigilance wings of respective

departments and forwards most of the complaints for inquiry and report to them. While it monitors theprogress of these complaints, there is delay and the complainants are often disturbed by this. It directly

enquires into a few complaints on its own, especially when it suspects motivated delays or where seniorofficials could be implicated. But given the constraints of manpower, such number is really small.

CVC is merely an advisory body. Central Government Departments seek CVCs advice on variouscorruption cases. However, they are free to accept or reject CVCs advice. Even in those cases, which are

directly enquired into by the CVC, it can only advise government. CVC mentions these cases of non-acceptance in its monthly reports and the Annual Report to Parliament. But these are not much in focus in

Parliamentary debates or by the media. Experience shows that CVCs advice to initiate prosecution is rarely accepted and whenever CVC advised

major penalty, it was reduced to minor penalty. Therefore, CVC can hardly be treated as an effectivedeterrent against corruption.

CVC cannot direct CBI to initiate enquiries against any officer of the level of Joint Secretary and above onits own. The CBI has to seek the permission of that department, which obviously would not be granted if th

senior officers of that department are involved and they could delay the case or see to it that permissionwould not be granted.

CVC does not have powers to register criminal case. It deals only with vigilance or disciplinary matters. It does not have powers over politicians. If there is an involvement of a politician in any case, CVC could a

best bring it to the notice of the Government. There are several cases of serious corruption in which officiaand political executive are involved together.

It does not have any direct powers over departmental vigilance wings. Often it is seen that CVC forwards acomplaint to a department and then keeps sending reminders to them to enquire and send report. Many a

times, the departments just do not comply. CVC does not have any really effective powers over them to seecompliance of its orders.

2. WOMEN

National Policy for Empowerment of Women(2001)The principle of gender equality is enshrined in the Indian Constitution in its Preamble, Fundamental Rights,

Fundamental Duties and Directive Principles. The Constitution not only grants equality to women, but alsoempowers the State to adopt measures of positive discrimination in favour of women.

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Within the framework of a democratic polity, our laws, development policies, Plans and programmes have aimed womens advancement in different spheres. From the Fifth Five Year Plan (1974-78) onwards has been a markshift in the approach to womens issues from welfare to development. In recent years, the empowerment of wom

has been recognized as the central issue in determining the status of women. The National Commission for Womewas set up by an Act of Parliament in 1990 to safeguard the rights and legal entitlements of women. The 73rd an

74th Amendments (1993) to the Constitution of India have provided for reservation of seats in the local bodies Panchayats and Municipalities for women, laying a strong foundation for their participation in decision making

the local levels.

India has also ratified various international conventions and human rights instruments committing to secure equrights of women. Key among them is the ratification of the Convention on Elimination of All Forms

Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) in 1993.

The Mexico Plan of Action (1975), the Nairobi Forward Looking Strategies (1985), the Beijing Declaration as was the Platform for Action (1995) and the Outcome Document adopted by the UNGA Session on Gender Equali

and Development & Peace for the 21st century, titled "Further actions and initiatives to implement the BeijinDeclaration and the Platform for Action" have been unreservedly endorsed by India for appropriate follow up. Th

Policy also takes note of the commitments of the Ninth Five Year Plan and the other Sectoral Policies relating

empowerment of Women. The womens movement and a wide-spread network of non-Government Organisatiowhich have strong grass-roots presence and deep insight into womens concerns have contributed in inspiriinitiatives for the empowerment of women.

However, there still exists a wide gap between the goals enunciated in the Constitution, legislation, policies, planprogrammes, and related mechanisms on the one hand and the situational reality of the status of women in India, o

the other. This has been analyzed extensively in the Report of the Committee on the Status of Women in Indi"Towards Equality", 1974 and highlighted in the National Perspective Plan for Women, 1988-2000, t

Shramshakti Report, 1988 and the Platform for Action, Five Years After- An assessment" Gender disparimanifests itself in various forms, the most obvious being the trend of continuously declining female ratio in th

population in the last few decades. Social stereotyping and violence at the domestic and societal levels are some

the other manifestations. Discrimination against girl children, adolescent girls and women persists in parts of tcountry. The underlying causes of gender inequality are related to social and economic structure, which is based informal and formal norms, and practices. Consequently, the access of women particularly those belonging

weaker sections including Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes/ Other backward Classes and minorities, majority whom are in the rural areas and in the informal, unorganized sector to education, health and productive resource

among others, is inadequate. Therefore, they remain largely marginalized, poor and socially excluded.

3. SOCIETY AND CULTURE

The concept of culture has rightly received prime attention in sociological research owing to its centrality

understanding the nature and performance of the social arrangement called society. Culture is probably one of t

most discussed and debated topics in sociological literature because of its central location in the study of individuin society. This concept has attracted the attention of sociologists, cultural anthropologists, literature scholars asocial psychologists among others in understanding human social behaviour. With its multifaceted an

multidimensional features, the study of culture has gained increasing importance over the last few decades.

In ordinary speech the word culture is often used to refer to sophisticated tastes in art, literature, music, and so oThe sociological use of this term is much wider, for it includes the entire way of life of a society. Hence th

relationship between culture and religion is very close. Culture sometimes is explained in terms of material anon-material. While artifacts such as books, pens, schools, factories, wheels, etc. represent material culture, mo

abstract creations such as language, ideas, religious belief, customs, myths and so on constitute the non-mater

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culture. Like the explanations, the definition of the term culture also is wide-ranging. Culture has been defined broad terms as a design for living or a set of mechanisms plans, recipes, rules, roles, constructions or what mbe described in the computer terminology as programming for social behaviour. Both the definitions point out

the vitality and significance of culture in society. Culture points out to the human way of adapting to thenvironment, a design for living acquired through learning.

Culture is achieved or acquired and not innate or ascribed. It is obtained through human socialisation t

continuous and ongoing process of interaction and learning through which we acquire a personal identity and sociskills to adjust and develop. The content of this process of acquisition carried forward from one human collectivi

to the next. In other words, culture is transmitted from one generation to another. It should be noted that what kinof individual we become is strongly influenced by enculturation the immersion in a culture to the point where th

particular design for living seems only natural and given inevitably. Most of us do not question our culturpractices and do not view them critically because they are naturally ours and are not external to us.

Every individual is accidentally born into a family and he/she acquires a culture as the member of that particul

collectivity. Because the cultural traits are specific to and identifiable within a given community, there cannot begeneralised and universal judgement on the desirability or undesirability of any cultural element or practice.

other words, cultural system is available only to its members and outside agents cannot judge the appropriateness

a culture by standards external to that culture. Justification for or critique of a culture and its practice cmeaningfully emerge only from within.

Culture is generally typified as material and non-material culture although that distinction has some notion

overlapping. The many different sections that make up a groups design for living - from sophisticated science atechnology to toys and childrens games; from great works of art and music to kitchen utensils; from sacre

ceremonies and worshipping acts to customs like shaking hands or saying namasthe; from beliefs about what doand does not taste good; even sex - all are shaped by learning all through life. Learning is of central importance

cultural acquisition as noted earlier. The degree of this learning determines the rate and extent of understandinculture and related course of action within the group. Thus, culture defines the way of life of the individual. Of

the learning applications, acquiring religion has a very special place in individuals life. This provides a position

the individual in his/her social functioning within the group. Therefore, a sociological discussion on religioinvariably leads to an elaborate discussion on culture and the reciprocal relationship between these two importaelements of society.

Culture consists of all the shared products of human society, both the objects and subjective elements. Cultu

influences all aspects of individuals living in society. In fact, as Parsons pointed out, the social system and cultursystem cannot exist independent of one another and any such distinction is made only for the sake of abstractio

and analysis. Culture forms the platform for all other social institutions including, family, kinship, scienceconomy, polity, and religion.

4. POLITICS AND ADMINISTRATION

The Constitution and SecularismIndian Constitution is a creative blend between state secularism and religiosity of the civil society. The Indian

Constitution treats all citizens equal, irrespective of caste, creed, race, sex or religion. Article 14 guarantees equalibefore law. It says, The State shall not deny to any person equality before the law or the equal protection of the

laws within the territory of India. Article 15 says, 1) The State shall not discriminate against any citizen ongrounds only of religion, race, caste, sex, place of birth or any of them. 2) No citizen shall, on grounds only of

religion, race, caste, sex, place of birth or any of them, be subject to any disability, liability, restriction or conditiowith regard to a) access to shops, public restaurants, hotels and places of public entertainment; or b) the use of

wells, tanks, bathing, roads and places of public resort maintained, wholly or partly out of state funds or dedicated

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to the use of the general public.Thus, the article does away with caste discriminations and Article 16 guaranteedequality of opportunity in matters of employment. Article 25-to 30-guarantee freedom of religion, of culture andlanguage. Article 30 also guarantees to minorities the right to establish their own educational institutions. These

Articles from 25 to 30 are extremely significant as far as minority rights are concerned, the minorities could bereligious or linguistic.

Though our constitution is secular, originally the word secularism did not occur in it. It was during emergency

mid-seventies that the words secular and socialist were added and India was described as secular and socialrepublic. But the words secularism or secular were not defined. According to H.M.Seervais Constitutional Law

India , Realizing that the words secular and socialist required to be defined, the 45th amendment bill (whibecame the 44th amendment) proposed an amendment of article 366 by inserting definitions of the words secula

and socialist. However, this amendment was not accepted by the Council of States. Consequently the worsecular and socialist have remained undefined. But a footnote to this gives the proposed amendment defin

secularism thus: Article 366 of the Constitution shall be renumbered as clause (2) of that article and before clau(2) as so numbered, the following clause shall be inserted, namely, (1) in the preamble to the Constitution th

expression secular means a republic in which there is equal respect for all religions. Thus, we see the worsecular and secularism remain undefined in the Indian Constitution.Secularism in the Indian Constitution connot

that:

(1) the state, by itself, shall not espouse or establish or practice any religion,(2) public revenues will not be used to promote any religion,

(3) the state shall have the power to regulate any economic, financial or other secular activity associated withreligious practice (Article 25(2) (a) of the constitution);

5. ETHICS AND MORALITY

The question of moralitywhat is right and what is wrong in human relationsmay be the central issue of o

time. Other questions that often are thought to outrank this one in importancesuch as how we should relate modern technology, or how nations should act in the interest of maintaining peace and of the future of the civiliz

worldalso are moral questions. Classes in ethics are taught not only in the undergraduate curriculum but also the professional schools. Doctors, lawyers, and school and public administrators attend seminars about moralit

Our techniques and skills have developed faster than our comprehension of our goals and values; perhaps threnewed interest in these ends will help to provide us with much-needed answers to the crises and anxiety that a

part of our lives.

Individuals are continually judging their own conduct and that of their fellows. They approve of some acts and cathem right or good. They condemn other acts and call them wrong or evil. Moral judgments always have

do with the actions of human beings and, in particular, with voluntary actionsthose actions freely choseInvoluntary actionsthose over which people have no controlare rarely open to moral judgment, as a perso

usually is not held responsible for an action that she or he did not initiate.

A DilemmaIf the question of morality is the central issue of our time, we may appear to have a dilemma! On the one hand, we

might agree on such matters as the levels of moral development, ingredients of the moral situation, and the manybasic terms and categories of ethics. On the other hand, philosophers and other reflective people have never agreed

on a method for doing normative ethics. Varying methods employing reason, inferences from nature, divinerevelation, and/or intuition have led to contrasting moral standards both ancient and modern. Where does this

variety leave us as we attempt to make sound moral choices individually and as a society?

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Moral PluralismMoral pluralism refers to the existence of thoughtful, contrasting interpretations of moral matters. The use ofmoral principles, such as those discussed in this chapter, does not lead to one clear and certain conclusion. For

example, a committee might adopt these principles and yet conclude differently about the morality of capitalpunishment. Schools of thought exist in virtually all areas of human inquiry, including the range of moral issues.

Nonetheless, the principles outlined above provide a reasoned framework for moral discourse, a distinct alternativto relativism.

6. EDUCATION

Yashpal Committee ReportA university is a place where new ideas germinate, strike roots and grow tall and sturdy. It is a unique space, which

covers the entire universe of knowledge. It is a place where creative minds converge, interact with each other andconstruct visions of new realities. Established notions of truth are challenged in the pursuit of knowledge.

To be able to do all this, universities have to be autonomous spaces. They are diverse in their design an

organization, reflecting the unique historical and socio-cultural settings in which they have grown. This diversireflects the organic links that they have with their surroundings, which are not only physical but cultural as we

Through research and teaching, they create, evaluate and bring about advances in knowledge and culture. Tprinciple of moral and intellectual autonomy from political authority and economic power is ingrained in the ve

idea of the university. This autonomy ensures freedom in research and training and it is expected that thgovernments and the society would respect this fundamental principle. Teaching and research have to

inseparable, because the task of the university is not only to impart knowledge to young people but also to githem opportunities to create their own knowledge. Active and constant engagement with the young minds an

hearts of the society also implies that the universities are to serve the society as a whole, and in order to achiethis, considerable investment in continuing education is essential.

The slow but increasing democratization of higher education in India has meant that the university is no longer tpreserve of the children of the elite, or of the educated / professional middle-class. As more youngsters from

different segment of society enter the universities, they look at higher education as a means to transcend the clabarriers. Consequently, university education is no longer viewed as a good in itself, but also as the stepping-sto

into a higher orbit of the job market, where the student expects a concrete monetary return, and consequently in thperception, the university of today is expected to be in tune with the emerging needs of the society. Even s

graduates should be sufficiently exposed to interdisciplinary experiences, which can sustain them when thdemands of a particular job market changes.

7. PHILOSOPHICAL ESSAYS

In India Democracy is way of Life

For us in India, democracy is not just a way of life, it is the way of life. For our nation the defining principle hasbeen and will always be Unity in Diversity. This is the idea of India. Our unity has been forged through theinstitutions and values of democracy. Indeed the fundamental premise behind our governance system is that every

Indian is a free person. We seek salvation for ourselves through the framework of an open society and an openeconomy. Today, it is with pride as an Indian that recognize the extent to which our democratic experience is

regarded abroad with admiration. India is a multi-religious and multicultural society. Democracy and the respect ffundamental human freedoms and for the rule of law do provide a congenial environment for development.

Democracy is a method of government by persuasion and discussion. The core of democracy is choice. Democra

is incompatible to any form of idea e.g. socialism, collectivism,or capitalism. Democratic society is always open ideas and views.It entertains plurality of ideas and arrives at an agreed line of action by comparing them, ironi

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out the difference and forming a composition.The word Socialism was purposely avoided though many of the teneof socialism were included as the DPSP. The constitution must allow future parliaments to function freely withobeing tied to a particular political agenda. All parliaments must be allowed the freedom to choose and adopt the be

in the prevailing circumstances. The Preamble to our constitution says, We the people of India, having solemnresolved to constitute Indiainto a Sovereign Democratic Republic It has been further said in the preamble itse

that Indian democracy will secure to all its citizens social, economic and political justice, liberty of thougexpression, belief and faith and equality of status and opportunity. In the past it guaranteed only political rights, b

now it is also striving to secure economic rights as well.

Abraham Lincoln in his famous speech at Gettysberg described democracy as government of the people , by thpeople ,for the people. Democracy is slightly more than that. Apart from political it is social also. It envisages n

only a democratic form of government but a society in which there is free exchange of ideas and each individuenjoys the same status in society.

Democracy is a way of life in India .It has grown deep roots. The making of democratic India was not only result

an ideological preference ,but a pragmatic understanding of ground realities. There is no doubt that the present ais the age of democracy, and it has developed into a very strong movement all over the world. Even the Communi

countries, which reject the basic western philosophy of democracy, call themselves peoples democracy. India n

only survived but flourished as a democracy. An important aspect of the Indian democratic resilience is the abilito adapt and accommodate to changing realities. In a democracy ,economic reforms are an exercise in politicpersuasion and management and yet our direction remains clear as also our determination to deepen the refor

process. Many countries have been unable to resist the temptation of achieving certain economic goals at the cost effectively curtailing the right of dissent and the freedom of expression .But in India the democratic spirit be

instrumental in creating change.

The triumph of Indian democracy was that it accommodated the sentiments behind the secessionist tendencies an

provided solutions within the framework of the Indian union.The Indian people have used their democratprerogative to mandate a coalition government in New Delhi- when this happen ,many observers at home an

abroad jumped to the conclusion that India was on the brink of instability and would soon become ungovernabl

Almost all the parliamentary democracies of the Europe have passed through coalition systems to arrive at stabtwo-party systems ,even now, several European countries are governed by coalitions.

Pt. Nehru 's prescient caution to the political classes of our country when he said that more than external aggressio,the greatest threat to India's unity and independence would be he rise of communal politics and religious politics.

Liberty,Equality and Fraternity generally in all constitutions of the whole world.But Justice is unique feature of o

constitution.Democracy succeeded so far because of visions of the leaders and democratic temper of the people bdistortions continues when whole state get hijacked during election days.

Democratisation of country's political and government institutions with greater representation of the rur

population and weaker sections of the Indian society.The expansion of literacy and the experience of electorpolitics spread over the last five decades have qualitatively raised level of political consciousness and socio-eexpectations among the people.There is lack of charismatic leadership and national appeal cutting acro

considerations of caste,religion, language regional and ethnic afflictions.National parties have to depend coalition arrangement changed the sociological and economic impulses of domestic politics.

Democracy is slow ,painful but definite process.All political parties remain completely committed to democratic

institutions.India has a non-political permanent civil administration and military establishment.Conviction amongthe people that contradictions emanating from the diversities and pluralities have to be resolved through democrat

means.For a democracy to be truly great,people must not only have the freedom of choice -not between the bad anthe worse,but between the best and the better.

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Pages From Our Uncategorized Essays Booklet

DECENTRALISATION DEBATEThe term decentralisation is understood differently by different individuals or the administrative techniques th

characterises the art and science of professional management. To quote Pfiffner and Sherwood, "In some respecdecentralisation has come to be a 'gospel' of management. Firstly, it is regarded as a way of life to be adopted

least partially on faith, secondly, it is an idealistic concept, with ethical roots in democracy, thirdly, it is in tbeginning a more difficult way of life because it involves a change in behaviour running counter to historicall

rooted culture patterns of mankind. That is why the new literature of deccntralisation dwells on how to bring abochanges in organisation bohaviclur. Men find it difficult to delegate, to think in terms of the abstractions requir

by long-term planning, to listen rather than to give orders, to evaluate other men and their work in terms of overresults instead of irritations and tensions of the moment.

Yet this is the very key to the behaviour required of leaders in a decentralised organisation." It is clear th

decentralisation is not only a device for the delegation or dispersal of administrative authority, but it is alsodemocratic method of devolution of political cuthority. Further, in a decentralised organisation'it is also essential

adopt the democratic norms. Such norms help the various levels of the administrative organisation to developreasonable capability for the exercise of authority to reach the most desired decisions. Moreover, they help

assimilate in them the virtues of greater interactions not only among the various organisational levels but albetween the organisation and the clientele among the general public.

It has been opined that dacentralisation refers to the physical location of facilities and the extent of dispersal

authority throughout an organisation. Hence, it is an arrangement by which the ultimate authority to command anthe ultimate responsibility for results is localised in units located in different parts of the country. It is argued th

assigning of functions and responsibility, for their efficient and effective performance, to the subordinates or sudivisions is the essence of decentralisation. We may say that in a decentralised organisation lower levels a

allowed to decide many matters and a few cases involving major policies or interpretations are referred to thigher levels of the orghnisation. However, in common phraseology the term decentralisation is interchangeab

used with terms like deconcentration, devolution and delegation, though they have different connotations. Thudecentralisation denotes dispersal of authority among the lower levels of organisation and its field offices.

Deconcentration, Delegation and Devolution

The word 'decentralisation' is often confused with delegation, deconcentration and devolution, which is not corre

The point is that all these words have their own meanings. For instance, delegation is not a transfer of authority bit is simply an assignment of authority to a lower body by a higher level of government. Delegation is merely

technique of administration or management while decentralisation deals with deep urgencies of democracy. Lidelegation, deconcentration is also a technique of administration. Deconcentration denotes assignment of certa

functions to the agent of the central or state government in the field. There have always been difficulties governing the country from the centre and so the government is compelled to deconcentrate certain functions to

agents or officers in the field. Another synonymous term is devolution which is not very much different frodeconcentration. The method of devolution is applied to the formally constituted local authorities whi

deconcentration is applied generally to the field agencies or staff. It is thus clear that delegation, deconcentratio

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and devolution are simply the technical methods of efficient administration. The meaning and scope decentralisation are much wider and deeper. It is a process of democratisation of political power and thereby aimat achieving democratic values in practice. To make the distinction more clear Panchayati Raj is an example

deszntralisation. State governments in India demanding for more powers, amounts to devolution. The DistriCollector, being vested with authority over development departments in the district is an example

deconcentration. The Commissioner of Police delegating powers to permit holding of public meeting to thAssistant Commissioner of the concerned area is an example of delegation.

IMPORTANCE OF DECENTRALISATION

Development--Administration is basically oriented towards speedy socioeconomic transformation. Hencthroughout the developing world there is universal concern now to design new forms of administration to match t

needs of development. Decentralisation has been looked at as a singularly useful mode of administration to delivthe public services from convenient local centres close to the clients' locality. Bringing administration to th

doorstep of the citizen and establishing a direct relationship between the client and the administration have been tdriving force behind dectiilralisation in most of the developing countries.

The urge for decentralisation has come from many sources. Firstly, it has been prompted by the need to deliver th

basic public goods like food, housing, water from local units of administration as soon as possible. Secondly, mopeople in the developing countries live in rural areas which are away from the National Capital located in dista

urban area. Administration has to 'penetrate' the rural areas and link these up with the nation as a whole. Thirdly, many countries sociological diversities manifest themselves in ethnic, linguistic and religious difference

Administration needs to be decentralised in response to regional diversities. Fourthly, regional and local resourccan be utilised for area development purposes, only if administration would move out to the regions and localitie

Decentralisation, therefore, facilitates local planning and development with the help of local resourcks. Fifthldecentralisation has its own value in political and administrative terms.

Politically, local participation in development activities, with intensive responses paves the way for meaningfarticulation of local demands. Planning, thus, becomes much more realistic and receives ready political suppo

From the administrative point of view, local capability to govern local areas increases through sustainparticipation in local decisionmaking. Decentralisation is expected to release local energies and enlist local suppo

for development activities. In the process, the local community can steadily attain political and administratimaturity.

APPROACHES TO THE CONCEPT OF DECENTRALISATION

The different approaches to the concept have been clearly and profoundly presented by Fesler. Following hclassification, the approaches can be grouped into four categories: the doctrinal, the political, the administrative an

the dualrole. The doctrinai approach seeks to transform decentralisation as an end in itself through a process

'romantic idealisation'. The Gandhian concept of 'concentric circle' of power distribution and the idealisation village community in Panchayati Raj have reduced decentralisation almost to a dogma and as an article of faitInstead of treating decentralisation as a means to the achievement of some end-values, such idealisation tends

elevate it to the status of a hardened doctrine.

The political approach underscores the essentially political character of decentralisation. Initiatives to decentralisand willingness to pass on powers and functions to decentralised units, and to allow these units to actually opera

within a framework of autonomy, are politically determined. Creation of field units of government, away frocentral headquarters, exemplify deconcentration. Decentralisation in the shape of devolution to local self-governin

bodies marks an attempt to'set up autonomous governments at the level of the locajity. Field units of governmelike district administration are the long arms of the central (state) government. To create and maintain loc

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government is thus a major political commitment. In the absence of such commitment, devolution to subnationgovernments, including self-governing bodies, will remain more in law than in practice. This leads to what Feslhas called 'illusory decentralisation'. Both Panchayati Raj and municipal government in India represent to

considerable extent this sort of faqade devolution.

The administrative approach to decentralisation is motivated by efficiency criterion. Enhancement of administratirationality becomes necessary. When field administrative units are set up through a process of deconcentration, th

measure is considered appropriate for field level decision-making and prompt problem solving. In this procesadministiative units might come up at many levels between the locality and the central (state) headquarters. Wi

more and more demand for specialised functions, multiplicity of functional departments would appear at the fielevel. The administrative situation gradually presents a picture of polarisation between general area-base

administrative demands and specific function-centred claims of particular functional departments. Currentldistrict administration in India is faced with this problem of area-function duality. Decentralisation

administrative terms may not therefore always guarantee 'clarity of authority and orderliness of operations'. Tpromote such operational principles, conscious attempts are needed to readjust from time to time the conflictin

claims of area and functions in deconcentrated field administration. Finally, the dual role approach, as Fesler puts is a kind of rehearsal of the area function dichotomy in a new setting. Decentralisation is placed within a larg

context of development and change, as distinguished from maintenance of status quo. Conceived in administrativ

terms, the dual role approach seeks to highlight the conflict in field administration between tradition and changMost field administrative systems were evolved in an earlier era mainly to maintain the established order, to collerevenue and to keep things from going wrong.

Almost all the developing countries that have inherited the colonial field system are seeking to bring about speed

social and economic change. As a consequence there has been a radical change in the functions of fieadministration. To quote Fesler, "The intent is to change established ways of doing things so as to carry econom

and social. development forward rapidly. This contrasts with the status quo orientation of a field system geared maintenance of the established order and may conflict with the personal orientation of field generalists so chos

and trained as to identify themselves with the classes, families, and other groups who constitute the 'establishmentResolution of conflict between two different orientations in field administration calls for adaptation

decentralisation to changing circumstances. The theme is not unfamiliar to Indian administration in general and district administration in particular.

TYPES OF DECENTRALISATION

Four different types of decentralisation can be identified, viz., administrative, functional, political and geographica

Administrative decentralisation refers to decentralisation of authority to the lower officials in the administratihierarchy of organisations. It may also mean decentralisation powers or functions to the subordinate unit

Functional decentralisation implies that the functions are decentralised to the specialised units or departments likeducation or health. We are all aware that Panchayati Raj agencies are units of decentralisation wherein politic

powers of decision making are decentralised from state governments to panchayats, samitis and zilla parishad

Finally, in geographical decentralisation, the powers and functions of headquarters decentralised to the fiedepartments of the state government, which are fhrther decentralised to their field officers at the regional adistrict levels. This facilitates quick decision-making keeping in view the local requirements.

SYSTEM OF DECENTRALISATION IN INDIA

A highly centralised imperial rule was gradually decentralised at the level of the provinces with the Government India Act 1919 and the Government of India Act 1935. Under the Act of 1919, as a sequel to the Montagu

Chelmsford Reforms, Dyarchy was introduced in the provinces. This meant that certain departments were for thfirst time put in charge of elected ministers responsible to the legislature, and the remaining departments were ke

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in the charge of Government officials, the Members of the Governor's Executive Council. The Act of 1935 for tfirst time introduced a federal form of Government and conferred 'Provincial Autonomy' on the provinces subject certain safeguards. This process of decentralisation of powers from the central government to the provinci

governments was deliberately pursued during British rule for a variety of reasons such as administraticonvenience, political pressure generated by the national freedom struggle, and the need for politic

accommodation of the elite and the intelligentsia.

There was another kind of decentralisation effort noticeable during the colonial rule: the policy of setting up locself-governing bodies in urban and rural areas. It is this form of decentralisation at the grassroots level th

continues to raise doubts and debates even today, and this 'decentralisation debate' has assumed considerabsignificance in recent times for two important reasons: first, poverty alleviation and social justice have become

major political agenda; institutional decentralisation, in this context, is being debated. Second, the Panchayati Rinstitutions have been languishing in most states; absence of a constitutional guarantee has been diagnosed as t

cause of Panchayati Raj decay. The mode of constitutional protection of Panchayati Raj became a debatabproposition since the proposal was first mooted by the previous Government.

Pre-Independence Period

The decentralisation debate during colonial rule can be traced to the famous Ripon Resolution of 1882. To train th

Indians in the art of governance, to enable them to learn from experience and to open up avenues for politicalparticipation of the educated class, Ripon strongly advocated the cause of decentralisation of administration througthe establishment of local self-governing institutions. The British administrators were not prepared to accept the

Ripon thesis as they questioned the competence of Indians to manage local administration and feared a generalweakening of field administration under a local self-government regime. The debate was essentially over the choic

of values: democracy or efficiency. With the rising tempo of freedom struggle, the imperial policy had to howeverwillingly concede Indian demands for self-government and participation in administration.

Post-Independence PeriodThe second phase of the decentralisation debate in post-Independence India was staged on the floor of the

Constituent Assembly. Panchayati Raj was an important component of Mahatma Gandhi's vision of future India in

which economic and political power would be decentralised and each village would be self-reliant economically. Iwas in accordance with the wishes of the Mahatma Gandhi that Article 40 of the Constitution of India was adoptestipulating that "the state shall take steps to organise village panchayats and endow them with such powers and

authority as may be necessary to enable them to finctions as units of self government." Dr. B.R. Ambedlaar,however, had a different view of the Indian rural society. He argued in the Constituent Assembly that the Indian

social structure at the village Cevel was hierarchical, oppressive and insensitive to change. In his view, it would bedangerous to give powers to the panchayats as he thought that would mean giving powers to the prevailing rural

power structure which would work to the detriment of the harijans and the rural poor. Two contrasting views aboudecentralisation had thus surfaced in the Constituent Assembly; a visionary stand point of decentralisation and a

realistic view of decentralisation. Any scheme of decentralisation presupposes a harmonious society. As Dantwalahas observed: "In an unequal society, democratic or decentralised political or planning mechanisms do not succeed

in ensuring genuine people's participation." The Galidhian vision of village society is a normative model that servethe purpose of a guidepost. But the reality of rural life and the experiences of Panchayati Raj in India seems to hav

largely confirmed the belief of Dr. Ambedkar. It is interesting, in this context, to note the observations of the AsokMehta Committee on Panchayati Raj Institutions: "Panchayati Raj institutions are dbminated by economically and

socially privileged sections of society and have as such facilitated the emergence of oligarchic forces yielding nobenefits to weaker sections."

The decentralisation debate has its roots at the conceptual level. The concept of Panchayati Raj has been far fro

clear and as the Asoka Mehta Committee commented: "Some would treat it just as an administrative agency; otheas an extension of democracy at the grassroots level; and still others as a charter .of rural local government."

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The bureaucracy-democracy debate over decentralisation which is a.4 old as the Ripon reforms of the lanineteenth century has been rehearsed in recent times as well. When it came to entrusting local developmentresponsibilities, most state governments opted for their official field machinery and virtually bypassed th

Panchayati Raj institutions. As the Asoka Mehta Committee reported, some of the state governments woupostpone the holding of elections or supersede the Panchayati Raj institutions for one reason or the other. "Th

lukewarm attitude of the political elite at higher levels towards strengthening of the democratic process at thgrassroots was generally the crux of the matter."

Recent Trends in Decentralisation

Even with our development planning experience of more than four decades, there is no sign of abatement ofpoverty and social injustice in the form of oppression of the harijans and the rural poor. One important reason for

this state of affairs that has been widely acknowledged in centralised administration and planning and languishingpopular institutions at the grassroots level. At the end of 1985, this point was clearly brought out by the G.V.K. Ra

Committee on Administrative Arrangements for Rural Development (CARD). The Committee emphasised theimportance of local initiative in local development and recommended revitalisation of the Panchayati Raj

institutions. Research findings revealed that the developmental process had gradually been bureaucratised anddivorced from the Panchayati Raj institutions leading to what has been aptly termed as "Grass without Roots". To

quote one study: "The basic reason for the failure of rural development and poverty alleviation programmes is the

exclusion of the people from participation in the development process and the abandonment of the institutions ofdemocratic decentralisation and the related electoral process."

The G.V.K. Rao Committee came out with a blue print of a decentralised system of field administration wiPanchayati Raj playing the lead role in local planning and development. Another novel decentralisation plan belo

the state level has been advocated by Nirmal Mukherji through devolution of politica! powers to directly electe"district governments" in India. Such a decentralisation plan will of course virtually affect the Panchayati R

structure from the district to the the other committee to bemoan the languishing of grassroots democracy is the L.MSinghvi Committee on Revitalisation of PRIs for Democracy and Development (1986). The Panchayati R

institutions, as the Committee has observed "have become moribund and ... they have been denuded of thepromise and vitality". To revive Panchayati Raj, the Committee recommended that "local self-government shou

be constitutionally recognised, protected and preserved by the inclusion of a new chapter in the Constitution". Thhas since been achieved through the 73rd Constitutional Amendment, 1992, that accords Constitutional status

Panchayati Raj Institutions. At the same time, municipal bodies have been accorded Constitutional status under t74th Amendment, 1992.

FACTORS IMPEDING DECENTRALISATION

Decentralisation is to be seen not only as a method or approach in administration, it has other dimensions also. T

what extent there is actual decentralisation depends on a variety of factors: administrative, political, social ancultural. Administratively in a society where there has been a long practice of centralisation of power, those at th

higher levels find it rather difficult to be mentally prepared to transfer powers to lower levels. Conversely, becau

of the long habit of always looking above for receiving orders there is inertia on the part of the persons working lower echelons. They would wait for an order from the above. In some cases, it has been found that even whpower has been decentralised, there is a tendency to shift the responsibility of taking decisions to the higher leve

to play safe, so that, the onus of responsibility does not fall on them, if something goes wrong administratively.

Rules and procedures are also laid down for decentralisation of powers, but it is seen that in actual practice, thingare not what they ought to be. There is always a method of getting around the system, so that the decisions are mad

from levels higher than that at which the decision should have been taken. Politically also we find that thouglegally and constitutionally, decentralisation might have been provided for and yet in reality in many cas

decisions are being taken by the political executive even in those areas which may not fall strictly in hislher ow

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domain. Because of the hold of the political parties, and the practice of the local politicians being 'nominees' of thpoliticians at the state and national level, the very purpose of decentralisation gets defeated. Socially and culturalalso if the society is paternalistic this concept of paternalism also gets transferred to the administrative structure

And this results either in the superior officer acting like a patriarch habituated to giving orders to the officials at thlocal levels or conversely the officials at the lower level resent every order, or decision or even suggestion on pa

of their superiors as undesirable imposition. The very spirit of decentralisation of power lies in the fact that wrecognise that there are levels of decision-making and at each level we have personnel competent enough to ta

decisions at their level. The success or failure of decentralisation, therefore, to a very great extent depends on thmentality and attitude of the superior authorities towards their subordinate authorities; whether or not it is based o

trust and confidence.

The process of decentralising powers to the lower levels of governance had been going on since the prIndependence days. The motives, assumptions and political-administrative compulsions have, however, differ

from age to age. Since Independence, India has been experimenting with decentralisation and development. Thestablishment of Panchayati Raj institutions, on the recommendations of the Balwant Rai Mehta Committee (1957

was a landmark in the history of decentralised development. For a variety of reasons, the Panchayati Raj institutiocould not play the desired role and in most states the institutions languished for want of political production an

administrative and financial support. Reports of commissions and committees and many research studies hav

pointed out the danger of continued neglect of the grassroots institutions, both for the health of Indian democraand for bringing about meaningful local development with active popular participation. The Constitutionamendments - 73rd (for Panchayati Raj) and 74th (for Municipal Bodies) - have since been enacted, grantin

Constitutional status to local government.

The 'decentralisation debate' has assumed considerable significance in recent times for various reasons as discussin this Unit. There is the need to deepen democracy. People at the grass roots level need to be "empowered". An

above all, participatory development is possible, and becomes a reality only with decentralisation. In this Unit aattempt was made to discuss the approaches, types of decentralisation, evolution of the system of decentralisation

India. It also highlighted the recent trends, and hnctioning of institutions of decentralisation in India and factoimpeding decentralisation.

Autonomy to PanchayatsWithin the Constitutional framework, Panchayats is a State subject. Under Article 243G, State legislatures may

endow Panchayats with powers and authority to enable them to function as institutions of self-government and plaand implement schemes for economic development and social justice including on matters listed in the Eleventh

Schedule. As per Article 243A a Gram Sabha may exercise such power and perform such functions as thelegislature of a State may, by law, provide. States vary in the extent to which they have devolved powers to the

Panchayats. Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR) has constantly urged the Union Ministries and States/UTs todevolve functions, funds and functionaries (3Fs) to the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) and strengthen Gram

Sabhas. MoPR has issued advisories to the States on Panchayat finances, manpower for the Panchayats, effectivedevolution of the 3 Fs through Activity Mapping and effective functioning of the Gram Sabhas.

Under the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 (PESA), the Gram Sabhas in the Scheduled Are

are empowered to safeguard community resources and the customary way of life. Gram Sabhas have been given tright to be consulted with respect to land alienation, resettlement and rehabilitation and grant of mining licences f

minor minerals. In addition, the Gram Sabhas have been given ownership of Minor Forest Produce (MFP), controver sale and manufacture of intoxicants, control over money-lending, power to restore alienated land and contr

over functionaries in the social sector. While the nine PESA States have amended their Panchayati Raj Acts accordance with PESA, several subject laws relating to mining, forests, money-lending, excise, etc. rema

inconsistent with PESA. MoPR has given detailed guidelines on 21.05.2010 to the PESA States on effectiimplementation of PESA.

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MoPR has issued a detailed advisory dated 19 January, 2009 to Central ministries and States on the role andresponsibilities of the Panchayats and Gram Sabhas in CSSs. The Backward Regions Grant Fund (BRGF)administered by MoPR as an Additional Central Assistance (ACA) to States is planned and implemented by the

Panchayats and Urban Local Bodies. The BRGF provides untied funds for meeting development needs that areidentified through decentralized, participatory planning in which the Gram Sabhas have a key role. No funds are

provided directly to the Panchayats by MoPR.

Apart from periodically reviewing the working of the PRIs with the State Governments, MoPR prepares State of tPanchayat Reports (SoPRs). Under the Panchayat Empowerment and Accountability Incentive Scheme (PEAIS),

MoPR assesses the extent of devolution of 3 Fs by the States as per a Devolution Index, prepared through anindependent agency. From 2011-12, the scheme has been expanded to include the assessment of Panchayat

performance.

It has been noticed that despite the Constitutional stipulations, the functioning of the Panchayats is hampered due inadequate devolution of 3Fs. Capacities of the Panchayats as well as Gram Sabhas need to be strengthene

considerably in terms of infrastructure, manpower, ICT etc. Under schemes like BRGF and Rashtriya Gram SwarYojana (RGSY), MoPR provides support for various capacity building activities. States are also incentivized und

the PEAIS to devolve 3 Fs to Panchayats.

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