SHIKHAR Mains UPPSC 2021 Day 6 Answer English

Updated : 4th Jan 2022

Q1: NITI Aayog gave a new dimension to planning. Clarify?

Approach -

In this question, you have to discuss the changes bring out by the NITI aayog in the planning. Highlight the changes ensured by Niti aayog after Planning commission.

Answer -

NITI Aayog was formed by the Government of India with a resolution of union cabinet on 1st January 2015 as a think tank replacing the Planning Commission. It designs various programs for India as well as provides technical advice to the Center and the States.

A new dimension to planning -

NITI Aayog as an advisory body - It provides important directional and strategic inputs to the Center as well as the States across the spectrum of key elements of the policy such as Food Security, Health, Education, etc.
Bottom-Up Development Approach - Emphasis on ‘Bottom –Up’ approach to envisage the vision of Maximum Governance, Minimum Government, echoing the spirit of ‘Cooperative Federalism’.
Approach to Promote Co-operative Federalism - While the Planning Commission was playing a central role in planning, NITI Aayog has a vision to develop knowledge, innovation, entrepreneurship support system through collaborative partnership of national and international subject experts, states and center and other partners. Promote cooperative federalism by developing a shared vision of national development priorities.
Approach to Promote Competitive Federalism - Niti aayog releases various indices and development reports to the states e.g. State Energy Index, SDG India index, State Health Index, Composite water management index, etc. This will promote competition between states and give impetus to the planning and inclusive development by the states.
Different Strategic Approaches -

Approach to Deliver Strategic Policy Vision Formulate a fifteen-year vision,
A seven-year strategy and a three-year action agenda.

Other perspectives -

To identify resources and monitor and evaluate programs and initiatives.
This will increase the chances of success of the scheme and expand the scope of delivery.
Technology upgradation and capacity building include an approach to develop.

NITI Aayog differs from Planning Commission in structural as well as from managerial and functional point of view. It is playing the role of providing impetus to inclusive development through the process of democratization of planning.

Q2: Mention the steps taken by the government to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. (200 Words / 12 Marks)

Approach -

This is a direct question. In introduction you can write definition of SDG. Then in main body discuss steps taken by government to achieve SDG. In few points give issues associated with these steps and conclude with a way forward.

Answer -

Sustainable Development Goals - The Sustainable Development Goals include the vision of social justice and protection of various kinds, along with ensuring better health, poverty alleviation and peace and prosperous life for all. 17 Sustainable Development Goals and 169 objectives that are part of Agenda 2030.

Some steps taken by the government to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals-

Employment-oriented programs for poverty alleviation like MNREGA, Hunar Haat, Labor Code.
National Food Security Act was brought to end malnutrition and starvation. Under this provision has been made to provide nutritious food grains to all.
For health and wellness, schemes like National Health Mission, National Insurance Scheme, etc. are being implemented by the government.
Provision of National Education Policy 2020 was made for the development of education. Under this attempts has been made for quality education along with skill development. This will give impetus to innovation along with research.
To remove gender discrimination, provision has been made for gender protection through Beti Padhao Beti Yojana, Sukanya Samridhi Yojana, Matru Vandana Yojana, Pocso act, Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques Act, 1994, etc.
Jal Jeevan Mission and Swachh Bharat Abhiyan are being operated for water security and cleanliness. This will not only lead to the development of water security and a clean environment but will also lead to a healthy life.
To fulfill the vision of energy security, special emphasis is being given to the use of renewable energy. This will strengthen the goals of sustainable development as well as environmental protection. Under this, solar energy mission, hydrogen vision 2030, development of green gas based economy etc. are included.
For industry, innovation, and infrastructure development, the government is striving to develop social and economic infrastructure with an emphasis on public-private partnerships.
For reducing inequality - Programs like development of small, cottage, and medium industries, Make in India, Mudra Yojana
To reduce socio-political inequality, promoting women's participation at different levels of governance, emphasis on the development of education, health

Though the government has taken many initiatives for SDG’s, India ranked 120th with a score of 60.07 in Sustainable development report 2021 of Sustainable development solution network and In comparison to the Sustainable Development Report 2020, India dropped by three places in 2021.

With just a decade remaining to achieve the global goals 2030, India need to accelerate and work for the development and improvement of the lives of people. India needs robust planning and timely data are needed to monitor SDG progress.

Economic Survey 2019-20 advocated a Nexus approach - integrating management and governance across different sectors and scales. It shows ‘Education and Electricity Nexus’ and ‘Health and Energy Nexus’. Such nexus underlined the overlapping of objectives to achieve different SDG targets. To tackle target efficiently, policies must consider and identify these linkages.

Q3: Explain the role of digital infrastructure in socio-economic development?

Approach -

Introduce with the general importance of digital infrastructure. You can also give definition of Digital infrastructure for the introduction.
In body write about the role of Digital infrastructure in socio-economic development.
End your answer with issues in digital infrastructure and way forward.

Answer -

In the era of globalization and fourth industrial revolution, socio-economic development is not possible without digitizing the economy. Developing countries like India are still far behind in the social and economic field as compared to the developed countries of the world. Although Digital infrastructure has emerged as an equal or arguably more important infrastructure requirement than traditional infrastructure like electricity, water and roads. According to a report India's consumer digital economy, is estimated to be $85-90 billion in the year 2020, and it will likely to rise to 800 billion dollars by 2030.

Importance of digital infrastructure in socio-economic development

E-Governance - Digital technology can increase the pace of reach and coverage of programs and reduce the timeline to achieve the target. The digital and ICT enabled solutions will be employed to enhance the demand for services and strengthen the implementation of existing schemes.
Ensuring people's access to resources - The citizens of the country will get the benefits of the schemes and programs run by the government. It will help in bringing the weaker sections of the society (women, SC/ST, old age, handicapped etc.) into the mainstream.
In the field of education - The citizens of the country will get an opportunity to connect with national and international educational institutions. Gender equality in education will be strengthened. There are 'Mid Day Meal Monitoring App', 'Shala Siddhi' and 'Shala Darpan' which pay special attention to the quality of school administration and its evaluation.
In the field of health - It will help in creating a health digital data base of all the citizens of the country. Better medical facilities can be provided with the help of frontier technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT). e-Hospital Scheme, M Raktakosh (a web based system that brings all government blood banks into a single network).
New ideas, such as gender equality, caste equality, reduction of superstition, etc. can also be achieved through digitization.

Importance in the economic field

Role in the production and post-harvesting management of agriculture, so that the income of farmers can be doubled by 2022.
IoT, artificial intelligence, autonomous driving and other new areas will play an important role in the economy. The development of digital infrastructure is necessary in this direction.
Providing impetus to the development of service sector as well as skill development and knowledge-based economy.

However, India has challenges in creating digital infrastructure, lack of resources and technical knowledge, prevalence of corruption, lack of awareness, digital gap, etc. Improving digital infra can bring economic, social, cultural, and ideological equality in society. India has set an ambitious target of doubling its economy to $5 trillion in five years. For this, it has made many efforts to become more digital and the government is emphasizing on increasing digital security and trust through Digital India Mission.