2) Chandrashekhar Azad’s own martyrdom robbed him of the opportunity of working for the establishment of the socialistic society he had dreamed about with comrades. Comment on Azad’s ideology and his contributions to India’s struggle for Independence. (250 Words)

1. Leaders set the ground work. The major activities are taken forward by others. This is what Chandrashekhar Azad did. He had a vision that energy of youth should be channelised into the right dirction. For the motherland. He studied extensively about the socialist ideals. And thought of settting up of Hindustan Socialist Republic Association. Earlier it was HRA (hindustan RepublicAssociation). So he tried to mobilise the masses into through socialist agendas. This move was supported by other leaders (his colleagues as well).
2. He also took a  bold move of planning to throw a bob in the Parliament. This was innovative way to make the deaf hear but not harm  any one. He formed an alliance with Bhagat Singh and Batukeshwar Dutta to execute this plan
3. Finally in an encounter, he thought not to allow himself captured by the britishers, in Azad Park, he shot himself. This was lauded by many leaders of the time including Jawahar Lal Nehru and Mahtama Gandhi.
His contributions are not limited to these. His ideology was more important than point wise contributions. 

1) Do you consider training dalit and tribal youth to become priests a reformative and a revolutionary step? Justify your answer. Also examine how does different sections of society view this step that’s being initiated at a conservative religious institution such as the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD). (250 Words)

1. Yes, it is indeed a revolutionary step, atleast we are thinking about it. Few years ago, we could not even think in this direction. When a beurecrat tried to do the same, he was outcasted, he was transferred.
2. It is justified on morality grounds. We are not living in the vedic age where listening of vedic chants are prohibited for women and lower caste people. we are at 5000 years ahead from that period. In this age of Artificial intelligence, there should be no bar fro dalits in such matters
3. It is also transformative. Deomgraphic dividend turns into a disaster, if employment falls. Atleast, this gives them  way of living.
It is difficult to change societal mind set. The varna system is so deeply ingrained in the minds of people that it is difficult to reform. So there is resistance from the scoiety. But at the same time, ethics, morality and what is right as per the constitution, is far ahead than societal resistance.So, ethics morality has to win , even of it faces resistance from the society. if the latter would have won, then there would be no
1. Industrial revolution
2. Failure of communist movement in Yugoslavia
3. No triple Talaq law, we have seen in the recent past

Can courts annul marriage between two consenting adults?

In the recent Hadiya case, when Kerela High court annuled marriage between Hadiya and her muslim husband, a burning issue has re-emerged whether courts can annul marriage between two consenting adult. It is the same question that has been aptly raised by Supreme court, when the high court decision was challenged by Hadiya in the latter. 

What are the factors which should be taken into consideration, while answering the above question? The question is primarily a conflict between the right to life of a person (Hadiya in this case) and some malign intentions behind such inter-religion marriages. Such marriages, more recently in Kerela, have seen indoctrination. The women are forced into sex slaves. Hadiya's father is worried about the same. He worries that, this marriage is a hoax. Later his daughter will be forced into sex slave into the hands of jihadis in middle east. The concern is valid. Any father would worry about his daughter. And that too, when many such cases have emerged in Kerela before his eyes. In that case, how can a father allow his daughter to go into lion's den?

However, Supreme court has not given due consideration to a father's appeal. After high court quashed their marriage, it has raised another question, whether courts can annul marriage between two consenting adults. It is also right in its intent. The courts in India, do not follow due process of law. The law which confirms inter-religious marriage is Special Marriage Act. And, marriages carried under this law, can not be annulled on the premonition that, it will eventually turn into a sham marriage. The courts can not decide the case on the basis of their wisdom. Just because we are not American form of democracy where, the judiciary is supreme, an they follow due process of law. We, at India, follow procedure established by law. 

There are numerous evidences from the past, where due process of law have never been followed. And we can not. Hindu Marriage Act 1955 offers for solemnisation-cum-registration for the couple. Despite this law, the framers of law, were aware that, in case of husband's death, the widow will be forced into Sati. Or may be, the widow will accept Sati, by her own will. But such pratice could not be stopped until Sati (Prevention ) Act 1987 was framed. So, any ill-practice can be countered only by bringing a new law. The wisdom does not work by its own, the procedure established by law has to be followed.

Same is the case here. The wisdom that marriage between a Hindu Women and Muslim women, will lead to religion change, and will finally throw her into sex slave, can not be countered by existing laws. A new law has to be framed. 

The democarcy should not hesitate in bringing new laws and regulations. More are the rules and regulation, better is the governance. In Delhi Sultanate period, this was called Al-Qanuni, during Turkinsh rules and Khilji period. People praised their rule, because the governance was good. 

We have moved ahead only 500 years from the Sultanate period. But the laws of governance remains same. More is the rules and regulation, better is governance. Then, there will be little ambiguity in deciding: whether courts can annul marriage between two consulting adults.

1) The philosophical and religious currents of thought in Brahmanism and Buddhism gave rise in India to two forms of society strongly opposed. Analyse. (250 Words)

1. Buddhims had emphasis on middle path in order to reach salvation whereas Brahminsm had very strict rules. It relied on someone who has exclusive rights to read the scriptures and rituals. This was absent in Buddhism.
2. Brahmnism accepted mostly men. Women were not allowed to read rituals. Whereas on other hand, Buddhism accepted women as Bikkhunis in their Sangha. Only condition was that they had to follow sangha rules. So this also created a gulf in the society, opposed to each other.
3. Brahmanism relied on Sanskrit , in which majority of  scriptures were written. Buddhism adopted common mass language. So people were attracted towards Buddhism.
4. However both forms did not lay emphasis on sacrifices of animals. On that front, both were accepted by the society.

Debate the issue of whether and how contemporary movements for assertion of Dalit identity work towards annihilation of caste?

Yes, they do work for the annhiliation of caste because
1. We khave seen similar anti dalit movement during our freedom struggle, they finally led to the abolition of untouchability as a fundamental right.
2. They create an impression that they can not be subjugated by the castes such as brahmins, rajputs- so assertion of dalit identity tries to propagate Right to eqaulity mentioned in the constitution- Art 14
3. It is also accepted by the society- as majority section of the society thinks, such caste system is anti -human rights and a societal sin.
4. culture that promotes superiority of caste system such as rituals to be perfomred by only brhamans begin to be looked upon with suspicion, in many temples, dalits have been appointed as the pujari

Dalit assertion lbrings towards annhiliation of caste in the following ways
1. by bringing put inequality in the society before government and among people in society
2. attracting international human rights bodies to work for this issue, so that there is annhilitation of caste
3. acting as pressure group before the government

** You can write in how part: by showing intellectual ferver - music , books on famous personalities, autobiography etc. in assertion rallies work towards fusion with other castes. 

2) Discuss the recommendations and relevance of the Justice Verma Commission on teacher education. (250 Words)

 The recommendations are apt however, following outcomes need to be realised

1. How the Quality of teachers education will be ensured.

2. Teachers education in far flung remote areas, what will be the mechanism? Because such states pend more on social welfare schemes

3. What about enchancing scinetific temper among teachers?

The recommendations seem to be silent on the above issues.

They are relevant because

1. we have had many callous incidents in the past in states like Bihar Madhy Pradesh- scams

2. No pilot projects from World Bank are at present active on teachers education

3. The quality of teachers education will push the quality of students appearing in the work force

1) Critically comment why and how female genital mutilation (FGM) practices such as khatna or khafz that are practised in India and elsewhere must be prevented. Also comment on implications of practises such as FGM on human rights and gender equality. (250 Words)

It should be prevented because
1. It is attack on fundamental right to life Art21.
2. Women live with that scar for the rest of life reminding them of the hurt they received
3. It is differentiation from other religious counterparts, Hindu, Christian women do not undergo such processes
4. It strengthens the spirit of Fatwa givers- who proclaim self proclaimed Islam protector
5. It is  a societal sin
6. This was not the culture since historic times, the why should it be followed now.

It can be prevented by following innovative ways
1. First preventing such practices for all those women who  have not conceived child
2. For those who conceived child, taking their consent
3. Banning Fatwas related to these practices on the basis of Fundamental right Art 21- right to life. The laws supplementary to such fundamental rights need to implemented.
4. registering societies including women who are victims (under Societies Act 1860)

Implications are
1. Women subjected to humiliation, not empowered to take decisions independently
2. Throws open wrong picture of Islam as a religion which speaks basic human rights in Quran- the holy book of Islam

Is fiscal deficit target really needed in the country?

The government has been flouting fiscal deficit target every year since FRBM Act 2003 was enacted. We could not achieve the target in 2005-08 due to slowdown in the economy (as a result of global slowdown). The targets were further pushed for two more years. Again, we failed in achieving the same. The successive government has focussed on spending more than revenue receipts. That is why fail to achieve the targets everytime. And it is also indispensable. Because unless we achieve the growth, we once enjoyed, at a level of 8-9%, we won't stop spending. Revenues always take hit, because we have not been able to mobilise direct tax enough. We have done good in indirect tax front. But direct tax collection always take a hit. 

In above circumstances, there always arise a question: what is the need to adhere to such fiscal consolidation path as mandated by FRBM Act? This also gives the feeling of guilt, that we were not able to achieve it this year. That we need to cut down spending next year by this amount. Why we make false promised every time knowing the fact that, the economy needs spending for the coming years. Do we want to hold a flag for the international arena, that look, we always try to stick to our targets? But we slip by certain percentage, owing to reasons, we take pride in. There is another important question to ask, does the investors feel attracted to invest with such fiscal slippage? Or, it does not matter them, knowing that interest rates will be attractive, if fiscal slippage is not beyond a certain limit. 

So, from investor point of view, should the interest rates be a benchmark for the economy, or fiscal deficit targets be the benchmark, which we never achieve?

The problems are not as complex, as we have made it, by fixing the fiscal deficit targets. When we fix  such targets, we also tie our hands in giving loans to the state governments. The state governments, in turn tie their own hands in spending for health, education and other innovative schemes such as Bhavantar Bhugtan Yojana (which is flagship scheme of the MP government to give the farmers the differnece in the amount announced as MSP and market price, since this is diff, the state governments can afford, gives little rise to inflation, not burdened with entire MSP amount. If the states coffer had been full, then such schemes hold little importance).

Another problem with fixing target is that, the govenrment try to raise money with extra budgetary resources, from the market , from the international institutions, and so on. This exerts pressure on the interest rates, with which the goverment need to repay back the principal amount. With such pressure, the focus on spending on social schemes, developmental schemes such as industrial institutions etc, dwindles.

So, we should aim at following things in the economy for an all round growth without worrying about fiscal deficit targets:

1. Aiming at maximising the revenue receipts alone, and not worry about on the expenditure front; because the latter is indispensable. The former has to be maximised by innovative startegies, which is sustainable, like plugging tax evasion, tax avoidance, round tripping of money. One strategy that can be deployed is swapping money between two nations. US to give India certain dollars and India to give back that amount without any interest. This will infuse liquidity and make money available for spending. 

2. Heavy expenditure to be carried on infrastructure such as roads, bridges, railways, power, inland waterways, dams, power plants, coal excavation and downstream processes. The money for these developments will come from tax revenues as stated above, money swapping (above ) and further borrowing (where interest will be paid). This will increase our budgetary deficit. But again, it will be managable once we start reaping the benefit. 

3.Plug expenditure on environmental projects that are stalled such as wetlands conservation projects due to regulation issues. Complete the stalled infrastructure projects. 

4.Excessive use of Green bonds, Municipal bonds etc for resource mobilisation

5. Funds that do not get used for 3 successive years, reduce the amount to half.

1) If Mahatma Gandhi had survived till 1950s, how different would have been the Constitution of India? Examine.

1. Some of the socio economic principles listed in the directive orinciples of state policy (Gandhina principles) for e.g. establishment of cottage industries, Art 44- uniform civil code, etc might have creeped into the rights section. (Part III)
2. Decentralisation initiatives like 73rd and 74th amendment act that came in 1992 and  1993, it could have come early (as early as 1950)
3. The directive principles might have included specific industrial policy to be adopted (we adopted mehlanobis model for the industries development in the initial phase)