Beruflich Dokumente
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The president of this session, Dr. Radhakrishna Murthy garu, eminent intellectuals,
leaders of the democratic and Left movement and my dear friends,
It is a great honour to be asked to inaugurate this seminar. From the list of the
contributors and those who are going to participate, I notice some of the best creative
minds of Andhra Pradesh, particularly of Hyderabad. I am, therefore, hesitant because I
don’t think there is much that I can really add in terms of intellectual caliber to the input
that all these contributions would make. But, nevertheless, since I have been asked to
inaugurate, I have to fulfill this formality.
This seminar has been titled as “Globalisation and its impact on Indian Society” and I
have been asked to give an overview of the developments that are taking place. I will
attempt to do that. But, it would not be, I must confess, a very structured lecture. Various
aspects of this theme that I would like to touch upon, I am sure in the next two days you
will deliberate in greater detail.
To understand the entire canvas of the term Globalisation, I think, at the outset, we must
be clear about it’s international dimension, before we talk about its impact in India.
Because often there is a misconception that this Globalisation is the result of some sort
of a conspiracy by the developed countries. They are coming together to conspire against
the rest of the world and what has been put out in the name of Globalisation is nothing
else, but a new recipe for the imperialist domination over the world. There is an element
of truth in this, but this is not the whole truth. We have to follow, I am afraid, the method
of legal proceedings when you say that I shall speak the truth, the whole truth and
nothing but the truth. The other two aspects of nothing but the truth and the whole truth
also have to be taken into account when we are discussing Globalisation.
Because it’s not only a conspiracy by the imperialist west. This point we must understand
in terms of the internal dynamics of capitalism and capitalist development. It was nearly
150 years when Marx, (I am going back to Karl Marx not only because I am a Marxist or
I belong to the Communist Party. But I sincerely believe that the most penetrating
analysis of capitalism was done by him and in a prophetic manner, he said many things
which are very very relevant to today’s conditions. I will come back to some of these
aspects later, particularly when we speak of culture and the impact of Globalisation on
that.) analysing the development of capitalism, one seminal point that he made was that
as capitalism develops, there is a tendency towards centralisation and concentration of
capital and over a period of time, you will have fewer and fewer capitalists but larger and
larger capitalists. This, I think, in the era of Globalisation has turned out to be absolutely
true. Because, what we see developing particularly before this new offensive which we
call Globalisation came into being in the world, is a very high degree of concentration of
capital in a few hands. The water shed, in that sense, the distinguishing characteristic of
this phase of Globalisation is what is now often defined as Globalisation of finance
capital. This finance capital which essentially was capital that used to live of and live on
the industrial capital has branched of to become a powerful source on it’s own. It’s
dimension can be understood, for instance, by the fact that world trade today is some
thing to the tune of seven trillion dollars annually. The financial flows in the world today
are to the tune of some thing like 400 trillion dollars. That is more than 50 times the
actual trade in the world is actually taking place in terms of financial speculation and
financial activity. This finance capital that has grown in such a dimension has specific
features.
Thanks to the technological advances it is instantly mobile across the globe in it’s search
for profits. It can travel across the globe within seconds. So there is no barrier so to speak
for the movement of this financial capital and since the barrier for movements don’t exist
the immediate demand that follows from this development is that no sovereign nation or a
country can impose any barrier on this flow. So the development of this phase of
Globalisation, with the expansion and concentration of this international finance capital,
makes a corollary demand for maximising it’s profits: There cannot be any conditions,
restrictions or barriers for it’s movement across the countries. This is the first
characteristic, the demand on sovereign countries to adopt Financial Liberalisation, i.e.,
do not impose any conditions on the flow of finance capital. This is one part that the
developments taking place.
The other part of development that is taking place internationally was the high degree of
concentration of industrial capital. All of you are aware about the growth of the
multinational corporations and the dominance that they actually have over the world. In
fact, some of these corporations have annual sales, which are larger than the GDPs of
many countries. American multinational corporations and, in fact, the top 200 companies
in the world today are estimated to account for nearly one-third of the world’s income.
This concentration of industrial capital also demands that in the search for maximisation
of their profits, conditions where there are minimal or no restrictions imposed on the
inflow and outflow of this capital into various countries. So therefore, the demand that
came in from the internationalisation of finance capital to do away with all restrictions on
it’s flow, is buttressed by the demand that comes from the centralisation of industrial
capital which also says restrictions should be removed and no country will have the right
to impose any conditions on the entry of this industrial capital into those countries in
search of maximisation of their profits by exploiting their resources and their cheap
labour etc.
Therefore from both ends, from the development of finance capital and the development
of industrial capital, there was a tendency in the international development of
capitalism to move towards this phase of Globalisation, that we see now. Add to this the
similar demands on having no restriction on trade flows and the picture of globalisation is
complete.
This is not happening because of the will of somebody but this is happening because
internal dynamics of capitalism itself is such that it brings you to this point where the
higher degree of concentration capital demands a newer global order. So that the
fundamental aspect of capitalism, that of maximisation of profits, continues unhindered.
So this independent sort of development of the internal dynamics of capitalism is some
thing that should not be ignored because otherwise it appears as though everything is
happening on the basis of the will of human beings: so and so is good and so and so is
bad. Since we have bad people governing the world today, you have this sort of economic
conditions that are developing. That is not the case. Actual concrete developments are
taking place. Remember in `Capital', Marx makes a very very pertinent point, saying that
profit is the motive force of capitalist development, he says “With adequate profit, capital
is very bold. A certain 10 per cent will ensure its employment anywhere; 20 per cent
certain will produce eagerness; 50 per cent positive audacity; 100 per cent will make it
ready to trample on all human laws; and 300 per cent and there is not a crime at which it
will scruple, nor a risk it will not run, even to the chance of its owner being hanged." So
the objective law of capitalist development is pushing the world towards this phase of
what we call Globalisation. It is, therefore, the system and not a set of any individuals or
countries that are responsible for this development.
The second aspect is the subjective utilisation of these objective conditions by the
western countries particularly by the United States of America-led imperialism. With the
collapse of socialism in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, the economic counter-
veiling power that existed globally collapsed. These former socialist economies were also
sucked into the vortex of the global capitalism. Once this happened, the onward march of
global capital for maximising it’s profits did not have any sort of an obstacle that it used
to face during the four decades after the second world war. In such a situation, you had a
vision of a new world order that was articulated by present Bush’s father, i.e., Bush
senior, when he was the President of United States of America. This vision envisaged the
global domination of the West particularly of imperialism under the leadership of United
States of America. It was given a concrete and also a legal shape. The institutions of the
IMF, the World Bank, and the later-formed WTO in 1994 -- all became the instruments
to put into practice this new world order.
This is the current phase of Globalisation what we are talking about. I have noticed
various papers by distinguished participants on various sectional impacts of this
Globalisation. I am not going into those details, but what is the main objective of this
entire process? The main objective in my opinion is to create conditions where by the rest
of the world, that is the developing world, is again brought back into a bondage of
economic slavery. Globalisation, as it is currently envisioned by imperialism, is actually a
blueprint for the economic recolonisation of the developing world.
Keeping both these objective and subjective aspects in mind, we will have to actually
evaluate what is happening at the global level and the impact that is taking place on our
country. In the last ten years you find that the lowest one-third of the world's
people's average per capita income declined from 3 percent of the top one-third to 1.9
per cent and for the middle one-third, it declined from 12.5 per cent to 11.4 per cent of
top one-third. That is the lowest one-third population of the world today gets per capita
1.9 per cent, what the top one-third earns and the middle one-third gets about 11.4 per
cent of what the top one-third earns. That is put together 13 per cent goes to two-thirds of
the humanity and 87 per cent goes to the top one third and this trend that is widening. The
essential point that emerges is the intensification of the exploitation of the people on a
global scale. There are more than 100 countries who are actually poorer today than they
were 15 years ago. That is, in absolute terms, there is a decline in their incomes
correspondingly, in absolute terms, there is increase in profits generated by the global
capital from their countries. This process of Globalisation, therefore, represents the
classical shift in the balance of forces away from the people towards big capitalists. This
is the political impact of this Globalisation: shift in favour of multinational capital and
their profits at global level and, in the process, economic exploitation of third world
countries or the developing world has been intensified. Therefore, the singular-defining
feature of Globalisation at the international scale is the growing of inequalities. The
growing of inequalities between countries and the growing of inequalities inside
countries between the rich and the poor.
As someone remarked, finance capital is the single player in the world casino. The world
is a gambling place and this finance capital is on its speculation march making super
profit. So the first direct impact on us are growing pressures to remove all restrictions on
inflow and outflow of financial capital.
The second, which is currently being negotiated in the WTO, which is called the
multinational agreement on investment MAI, i.e. remove all restrictions on the inflow of
industrial capital and remove all restrictions on the repatriations of profits. We, in India,
have implemented this to a large extent allowing the free flow of FDI. This Vajpayee
government has gone to the extent of opening up every sector. The strangest thing you
will find with this government is it has opened up 100 per cent access to FDI in real
estate. Even countries, which are advocates of liberalisation, Globalisation etc, have
restrictions on foreigners acquiring property.
The third area of globalisation is the removal of all restrictions on foreign trade and
provide access of your markets for the products produced by the industrialised world.
Bending over backwards to appease US imperialism, this Vajpayee government has
already, not only removed quantitative restrictions, but also progressively reduced import
duties so that virtually we move towards a zero import duty regime. That is the goods
from the advanced countries can come and take over our markets and maximise profits.
Let us specifically discuss the impact on India. You have circulated, I notice, Prof.
Prabhat Patnaik's paper, which tells us that in ten years of reforms what has happened to
Indian economy. Therefore, I do not want to deal with the economy in greater detail.
Other aspects of Globalisation and its impact on India, I think, also merit attention. But
on the economic front, let us to sum up what has happened as a result of globalisation. If
you look at it sector wise or if you look at its macro-picture, one myth that has been
exploded is that Globalisation has lead to a higher growth rate in India. The pundits of
Globalisation have been saying we have broken out of the so-called Hindu rate of growth.
The Hindu rate of growth they define between 2 and 3 percent and they say that
Globalisation has given us growth rate of more than 6 percent. Now this point is brought
out in Prabhat Patnaik's paper. When you look in to it, in terms of the five year
averages, the highest growth was between 1986 and 1990, when you crossed 8 percent
and after that in the next 5 year averages you will actually find a decline. That you come
down to from 8 to 7 and then to 6 percent by year 2000. We have had an actually
declining growth rate during this decade of reforms -- one. Second, in macro terms you
see particularly the accentuation of inequalities between the rich and the poor. This has in
a glaring manner lead actually to a contraction of the domestic demand. `Rich have
become the richer and the poor have become the poorer' is unfortunately regarded
a cliché. But as most cliches do it makes sense. In the process of the poor
becoming poorer the actual domestic aggregate demand declined. The net result has been
the inability of large sections of the people to buy leading to the inability of industry to
sell what it has produced resulting in a recession. This, in turn, is resulting in decline in
employment. This, in turn, again is strengthening the process of declining domestic
demand. This completes the vicious circle of the recession and unemployment. The worst
situation currently facing our country. In the first two quarters of this financial year, if
you take your core sector, that is basic sectors in the economy; steel, cement, coal etc
they have grown by 0.1 percent as compared to 6.3 percent in the corresponding period
last year. So if your core sector has declined like this means that your entire industrial
sector is in a big crisis. And that is why the captains of industry when the budget was
being presented I am sure all of you were seeing on TV Mr. Rahul Bajaj was giving 9.8
points out of 10 points to this budget. I remember, on the Doordarshan, I was called for
the last session in the night. The anchor when he called me said “Sitaram it’s been a
boring day because there has not been a single person who opposed the budget." Then I
said you called me late you know, if you could have called me earlier I could have
opposed it earlier. He said Mr. Rahul Bajaj gave 9.8 points out of 10 to this budget so I
said I would not give more than 2. I said within 6months you will find this budget
instead of reviving or kick-starting the economy will push the economy into greater
recession. That has been vindicated.
The classic feature of liberalisation has been the intensification of exploitation, capitalist
exploitation of the Indian people where by profits have grown , people’s capacity to
spend has decreased, as a result of which, overall economy is in a phase of
recession. This is very typical of a liberalised economy, because the objective is not
overall economic growth but to maintain and increase the levels of profits of your
capitalist class. This impoverishes a large section of the people to the extent that
the economic survey of this year has shown as that the employment growth rate of last
year has been close to 0 percent. And if you look NSS data, it shows you that during this
phase of liberalisation, there is a drastic fall both in rural and urban employment. If you
look at the primary sector, that is agriculture, for the first time, you have the growth of
foodgrain output, actually falling below the population growth rate and nothing typifies
the actual graphic description of this liberalised economy as the mountain of food stocks
you have on one hand and the starvation deaths and distress suicides of farmers on the
other. This is that glaring inequality that we talk of which is exacerbated after these
policies have been brought in. Agriculture in that sense has been going through a very
serious crisis, with a third continuos year of either stagnation or decline in it’s growth.
Now, this is typical again of Globalisation. One important feature of liberalisation is the
States withdrawal form economic activity in the name of free market -- the philosophy ,
the ideological tenet of Globalisation. This, in other words, means the State’s capacity to
invest in the economy declines leading to a decline in capital formation. Declining
domestic capital formation adversely affects the future health of economy. That is
actually what is happening. State’s withdrawal has two types of impact. One is that the
gross domestic capital formation declines, which impacts on the general economic
growth. Secondly state’s withdrawal means whatever little responsibility that the state has
towards the people in terms of education, health, in terms of other social obligations, are
progressively abandoned by the government. In other words, the people have a double
pronged attack on them. Because of decreased economic activity the employment
opportunities and their livelihood get adversely affected. Secondly, because of the State's
withdrawal from social sector what ever relief they were getting that also gets reduced.
The livelihood of the vast masses of the people deteriorates sharply.
Impact of Globalisation in India has also many other dimensions. It has wide ranging
impact on everything else connected with our lives. It impacts our entire culture or the
entire value system, on the milieu in which we are living. Again I go back to Marx. 150
years ago, he actually said that capitalism not only produces the object for the subject but
it also produces subjects for the object. He made a very penetrating statement. In today’s
advertising world if you see this what is actually being created. You are creating human
beings who are capable of consuming certain products. The emphasis is no longer on
creating the products that are required by the human beings rather creating human beings
that are required for the products. This is essentially the defining feature of culture
under Globalisation. Human beings are reduced to the status of products who will
consume the other products that capitalism produces. This entire trend of culture --
consumerism, degeneration etc -- creates it’s own atmosphere which effects every aspect
of our life and society.
One immediate impact can be seen in the declining political culture. Globalisation has
thrown up in India absolutely newer avenues for corruption, which were unheard of or
unconceivable ten years ago. The entire range of corruption that you find in our country
today and the political corruption that you find as a consequence -- flood gates have been
opened by this process of Globalisation.
Globalisation and liberalisation mean the opening up of areas for kickbacks and
commissions to a large extent. In the process, the entire culture of corruption if we may
call it, has undergone a `revolutionary' change where you find the ways in which money
can be made has not only expanded but it is having a tremendous impact on the political
life of this country. This is an important aspect because the causality here is actually
genuine democracy and the obvious consequence is the very sharp rise in political
opportunism. This sharp rise in political opportunism also is creating a degree of political
instability which will seek to move the polity towards authoritarianism. The degeneration
of polity seeks to divorce politics from all democratic content and reduce it to sordid
bargaining and manouvering. Very often, we see now a days, the corporate world saying
separate economics from politics. This is their politics! They are actually saying that
reform process should take place independent of what is happening in our political life.
They want to separate reforms from politics so that nobody can interfere and the
politicians are told that you can confine yourself either to destroying Masjids and
building temples or giving reservations! That is your agenda and do not talk of
economics. So the attempt to separate economics from politics in other words separate
the political life of the country form the actual economic decisions that are being taken, is
a very important consequence of the process of Globalisation. How this is impacting on
our political life we are able to see in various aspects of the type of governance that we
are seeing in the last few years both at the center as well as in your state Andhra Pradesh.
In India, the communal forces and communalism in a way also requires the
homogenisation of culture. For them, this is essential to portray that the entire cultural
heritage of this country is a monolithic heritage that is derived only from the Hindu
religion. The plurality and the diversity and all that variety that we have is actually
sought to be erased by giving a communal interpretation of culture. The impact you will
find also in education and in the entire area of knowledge. Therefore, to homogenise this
culture requires efforts to actually rewrite or redefine our own diverse cultural heritage
and put it into one singular monolith. This is the ideological project of the communal
forces.
Globalisation of Indian society, taken on the whole, we see the direct impact that is
taking place on the economy which is leading, on one hand, to the ruination of millions of
people and, on the other hand, to severely mortgaging our country. The Comptroller and
Auditor General of India, reviewing the accounts for last year has shown that India, a) is
already in a foreign debt trap, b) the outstanding debt and liabilities of government of
India today stand at more than 16 lakh crores of rupees and the interest being paid is one
and half lakh crore rupees annually. The country is being mortgaged, millions of people
being ruined, the economic fundamentals in terms of infrastructure, the countries
economic wealth being ruined and the assets and wealth of the people of the country
being looted. Public sector is being sold for a song. In other words, bolstering the private
capitalist class and their profit making capacities at the expense of the country and the
people. This is the impact in the economic sphere.
In the sphere of polity, we have situations where political alignments are decided by
which type of economic policies will be pursued. The nature of political culture is
defined on the basis of your commitment towards liberalisation and to that extent the fall
in political morality also takes place correspondingly with a higher dosage of
liberalisation and globalisation that takes place. The latest example of this is the re
induction of Mr. George Fernandez into the cabinet. Today no questions are asked,
except by people like us who keep on shouting. The government says go to hell. As long
as big business and capitalists are supporting this government because of the reforms that
are being implemented they do not care too much for people’s opinion. Three more years
are there when the elections are due. May be that year, they will consider the views of the
people but otherwise satisfying corporate sector and the capitalist world and foreign
capital has become the defining yard stick of political culture today.
The third area of this impact we have to take it into account is in the sphere of culture. It
is having a very very deep impact in India and is ably aided and assisted by the
communal forces in the country. They also seek the same objective of homogenising the
cultural product or homogenising the cultural milieu that is there in our country which the
communal forces seek to utilise for their agenda. Globalisation uses it for it’s agenda of
mass production of cultural products. Together they are wreaking havoc with Indian
society. It is a serious danger for India's unity and integrity.
Regarding globalisation, in that sense, there are various other aspects that we can talk
about. How it is impacting the State; how it is eroding the national sovereignty of
independent countries; whether the `nation-state' itself is a viable concept under
globalisation or not. These are issues which you will be discussing in your papers and I
have not gone into it. Broadly speaking, these are the three main areas of impact of
Globalisation, that I wanted to share with all of you, of course, in the background of the
independent process of the dynamics of world capitalist system itself which is being
utilised in the present phase by the advanced capitalist countries particularly the U.S.A to
strengthen its hegemony over the world and extract the maximum exploitation of the
third world countries. I said earlier that what they seek is actually a blueprint for
economic recolonisation of the developing world. That is the actual purpose and intent of
the present phase of Globalisation.
In this light, our struggles against this will have to be defined. So finally, I would end by
talking about how do you struggle against this? One aspect is to resist the governmental
policies and oppose this government's succumbing to the interest of foreign capital and to
prevent the government from going the whole hog that it wants to go in mortgaging our
country and putting the burdens on the people. Yes, we have our traditional forms of
struggle and these are growing both internationally and nationally, as you all know.
However, I would like to refer to what many people are saying that in today’s world of
modern information technology where you have now, 6.1 billion e-mails being sent every
day, your enemy also appears illusionary. It doesn’t appear tangible. I mean how are you
going to determine against whom to have a demonstration. At a point of time, a good
friend of ours, Mr. George Fernandez, that’s why I said at one point of time he was a
good friend and not at the moment. In those days, we used to go for joint conventions.
Whenever the organisers used to bring cool drinks, he would always look for thums-up or
something domestic, pick it up and show me and say you Marxists will drink Coca-Cola
but I will drink only Campa Cola, I am nationalist! Then I used to tell him, you may be
drinking Campa Cola, but tell me where is the profit going. Coca-Cola has bought up
Campa Cola! You can have your symbol of being nationalistic but basically the profit
has gone to the same multinational because he has already bought up the other company.
Many may say now comrades in this present new world how are you going to struggle
against the intangible forms. That is wrong. I mean to say that the enemies are very
tangible, they are actual class forces that will have to be fought and the class battle will
have to be sharpened. That is one aspect. However, as the situation develops, new forms
of struggles will also develop. All those of you who are familiar with computer
technology and use your e-mails will know a big movement is growing today and has
millions of followers world wide called the free software movement -- the Linnux/GNU
movement. What is that? It is a revolt taking place at one level. We have to recognise
that this is a revolt that is taking place against new manifestation of capitalistic
exploitation. This is telling Microsoft that we will not give you super profits for your
control of your copy right of the software. We will have our alternative and millions of
people are doing this all over the world voluntarily, not really connected with each other
through any party or through any mass organisation. But their voluntary response, that is
the essence of what Marx said, capitalist exploitation by itself generates the rebellion
against exploitation and that is what has to be organised in order to over throw capitalism.
But the fact that it is triggering a rebellion is something we will have to understand. What
is it the other new area where the struggles are emerging? I am sure many of you are
familiar with a book called NOLOGO by a person called Naomi Klien. If you are not, I
seriously suggest you procure a copy and read it. Two weeks ago, the London Economist,
one of the most respected but right wing journals of the world, had a cover story on this
NOLOGO calling it PROLOGO. The book is against corporate brands and the main point
it makes is that modern day capitalism is no longer interested in producing products, as I
told you earlier. It is interested in familiarising brands like Nike, Coca-Cola etc. Where
the product is produced is not important. The product might be produced in Thailand or it
may be produced in Malaysia or produced anywhere but it is the brand that is important
because it is the brand that sells. As a result, in the advanced countries, millions of
people are loosing jobs. She explains the whole situation and then she notes the protests
that are emerging in the universities of the west. How are these protests emerging?
Suddenly in the night, she says, in Toronto a group of youngsters decided to go and
blacken all the logos, all the major advertisements and destroy their Neon signs. Who are
these youngsters? Why are they doing this? Behind this is the expression of revolt against
capitalist exploitation under new conditions. It is finding newer forms.
People through their own experience will find these newer forms and these newer forms
are emerging and it is through this newer forms, I think, the struggle against this entire
process of globalisation will strengthen. From Seattle to Genoa, if you see, who are
these people; people of the first world. We have not been there. They always invite us
saying why don’t you come. We can take even lakhs of people from here but how do you
reach these countries with such expensive travel costs! Ticketless travel is not possible on
planes! Now they are forcing the G-8 countries to go underground! The next summit of
G-7 and G-8 was supposed to be held in Toronto in Canada. They have now decided to
hold it at a hill resort where the kings used to meet earlier where nobody can reach. One
will have to be dropped by helicopter or something so that people cannot reach there. So
the leaders of the capitalistic world if they have to meet, they have to meet in isolation.
They cannot meet amongst the people. Such a situation is also coming where this
struggle against these policies is on the rise. This is what we will have to note and work
out how we in our country, I am sure that you will discuss in next two days, how we will
be able to promote these struggles into growing struggles world wide against the process
of Globalisation.
These were some of the thoughts which I wanted to share with you and I am sure that in
the next two days you will discuss many of these issues in greater depth and come to
some conclusions.
UPSC has brought changes to the Civil Services Mains examination in both the pattern
and the syllabus. We know that now there are 4 General Studies Papers apart from one
Essay and Optional paper each.
This article discusses preparation strategy for General Studies -2 (i.e Paper-III)
Before you start reading further, please remember the following important mantra given
by the Almighty UPSC:
“The questions are likely to test the candidate’s basic understanding of all
relevant issues, and ability to analyze, and take a view on conflicting
socio‐ economic goals, objectives and demands. The candidates must give
relevant, meaningful and succinct answers.”
This sentence is the guiding light for your preparation. You don’t have to master the
topics, all you need is BASIC UNDERSTANDING and the ability to analyze.
Basic understanding comes from reading and re-reading. Ability to analyze what you
have understood from reading comes from WRITING PRACTICE.
Assuming you are now familiar with the syllabus of GS-1, we will discuss a topic by
topic what to read, from where to read and what not to read for these topics.
TOPIC-2
Functions and responsibilities of the Union and the States, issues and
challenges pertaining to the federal structure, devolution of powers and
finances up to local levels and challenges therein.
One good source to get the critical perspective about these topics is – Report of the 2nd
Administrative Reforms Commission, named – Organizational Structure Of
Government of India (13th Report)
For devolution of finances to local bodies, Read This.. (Don’t look anywhere else)
For the concept part read – Laxmikant’s Indian Polity. Buy the new updated 4th
edition. (Chapters 12, 13 14 and 30).
But Mains demands not only basic understanding of these topics, but your critical and
analytic abilities to answer questions on these topics. So, try to relate these concepts to
current event topics and write small articles. ARC reports will help you in this regard.
Eg. ” Though devolution of funds, functionaries and functions is taking place in the local
governments, development is still a mirage in many parts of India”. Critically analyze.
(you can frame many questions like this)
TOPIC-3
This topic is a dynamic portion – we read lot about conflict between the Judiciary and the
Executive – to answer dynamic topics, one should first understand the constitutional
provisions, redressal measures with the constitution, checks and balances provided in the
constitution etc.
ARC reports come to the rescue again. 7th report of 2nd ARC named “Capacity
Building for Conflict Resolution” talks elaborately on various issues such as Left Wing
Extremism, Regional Disparities, Land and Water related issues, SC and ST issues,
Religious conflicts and North East conflicts – which involve numerous institutions in the
conflict management and resolution.
Later, scan current events and find any latest instances of conflict between any
constitutional bodies, or between a constitutional body and statutory body.
TOPIC-4
In case you can afford to buy costly book – D.D. Basu’s Classic on the Indian
Constitution – Shorter Constitution Of India not only covers all above topics, it also
covers the present topic.
TOPIC-6
Union Executive
Parliament of India
Supreme Court of India
Executive in the States
State Legislature
High Courts and Subordinate Courts
Local Government:Urban and Rural
Pressure Groups
Again, Laxmikant is enough for this topic. Regarding pressure groups/ informal
associations – recent activism shown by Civil society, conflict with the government and
other such topics should be studied in depth.
TOPIC-7
Salient features of the Representation of People’s Act.
First read this beautiful article by Yogendra Yadav. (PDF)
This topic has generated more heat in the past and present – eg, office of profit bill, anti-
defection bill, electoral reforms bill etc.
Recent supreme court ruling disqualifying MPs and MLAs with criminal background,
and current topics like this should be studied carefully.
TOPIC-8 and 9
This part of the syllabus has given rise to some contentious issues such as political
interference in the appointment to various constitutional posts and statutory bodies. Eg
EC, CBI, CVC, CAG, SC, Governors, Lokayukta, Lokpal (if it comes into existence) etc.
So, read this topic keeping in mind these above issues.
As I said before, you need to read all the above topics with an analytical perspective. To
provide you with this, there is a wonderful book published by Oxford University Press
and authored by Pratap Bhanu Mehta, named – “Public Institutions in India –
Performance and Design“, will be immensely useful.
As its back cover says, “This volume analytically assesses the design, performance, and
adaptability of the principal institutions of governance in India and their critical role in a
democratic polity.” That is what you need for this paper.
TOPIC-10
TOPIC-11
This report gives critical account of success and failure of SHG’s in India. (just read
the summary, conclusion and recommendations – NEVER read full report)
TOPIC-12
Focus on the schemes being implemented by the Ministry of Women and Child
welfare, Ministry of Social Justice, Ministry of Rural Development and Ministry of
Tribal affairs.
List of All state and central scheme – Govt. of India Website (here you can filter queries
by the ministry- it is not easy though, govt site you know..)
One more option is visit this link on my site to go to the site of any Ministry and find
schemes there.
TOPICS 12 and 13
Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services
relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.
TOPIC-13
TOPIC-14
International Relations
TOPIC-15
India – Afghanistan
India – Pakistan
India – Nepal
India – Bhutan
India – Bangladesh
India – Sri lanka
India – Maldives
India – China
India – Myanmar
2. For critical analysis – This Book by Rajiv Sikri – Challenge and Strategy – Rethinking
India’s Foreign Policy is must for reading this part of the syllabus.
TOPIC – 16
Ministry of External Affairs has briefs on all bilateral relations of India with regional and
global groupings:
o Andean Community (CAN) February 2013
o ASEAN Regional Forum August 2012
o Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) May 2013
o BRICS April 2013
o Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM) January 2013
o Central American Integration System (SICA) February 2013
o Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) August 2012
o Commonwealth August 2011
o Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) August 2012
TOPIC-18
Newspaper is the best source I guess. For more info, visit the official site.
TOPIC- 19
Finally, for some articles from Yojana magazines (2013) that are related to many topics
from this Paper, click here.
Five Indispensable Books For paper-III
1. D.D.Basu
2. Introduction to the Constitution of India 20 Edition
3. Indian Polity for Civil Services Examinations 4th Edition – Laxmikanth
4. Select Constitutions: 16th Edition – S Chand
5. Challenge And Strategy : Rethinking India’s Foreign Policy – Rajiv Sikri
6. Public Institutions in India: Performance and Design – Pratap Bhanu Mehta
TWO RECOMMENDED BOOKS (Only If You Have More Time At Your Disposal)
– Both By Granville Austin – Classics On Indian Polity
A SMALL LECTURE
Until now we saw what books to read. Now the question is how to remember most of the
things we read and how to translate them into better answers.
A common mistake most of the aspirants commit is reading so many books for a
single topic.This mistake costs both your time and ability to remember things
clearly and concisely.
Stick to a single source and read it again and again. Remember The Same Source.
Avoid the temptation of doing ‘Research’ on a topic.
Always Remember – UPSC tests Basic Understanding. Not mastery over a topic.
Make short notes on each topic. It is while making notes that readers tend to do
RESEARCH and scout various sources. Stick to one book even if you are not 100%
satisfied with it.
Remember that old saying? – Jack of all trades, master of NONE. If you try to do
Research, most probably your name won’t appear in the Final List. I guarantee it.
For Paper-II (i.e GS-1) being thorough with Current Events plays a crucial role in
enabling you to acquire analytical skills.
Well, to sum up. To get the interview call all you need to do is: Read, Re-read the same
source, Write and Revise.
Preparation for this paper can be finished in 20 days provided you are focused and
determined.
Of course. Eat well, Sleep well and Keep a good health. If you get a running nose on the
day of the exam, 2 hours out of 3 hours goes in draining it and drying it.
UPSC has brought changes to the Civil Services Mains examination in both the pattern
and the syllabus. We know that now there are 4 General Studies Papers apart from one
Essay and Optional paper each.
This article discusses preparation strategy for General Studies – 3 (i.e Paper-II, Paper-I is
Essay)
Before you start reading further, please remember the following important mantra given
by the Almighty UPSC:
“The questions are likely to test the candidate’s basic understanding of all relevant
issues, and ability to analyze, and take a view on conflicting socio‐ economic goals,
objectives and demands. The candidates must give relevant, meaningful and succinct
answers.”
This sentence is the guiding light for your preparation. You don’t have to master the
topics, all you need is BASIC UNDERSTANDING and the ability to analyze. Basic
understanding comes from reading and re-reading. Ability to analyze what you have
understood from reading comes from WRITING PRACTICE.
STRATEGY
Technology,
Economic Development,
Bio diversity,
Environment,
Security and
Disaster Management.
(You can observe that it resembles GS-2 of old patters sans statistics and international
relations) Two important things fundamental to your exam preparation:
Get familiar with all the topics and sub-topics by writing them many times – they
should be strongly etched in your memory.
Keep a copy of the syllabus always near you no matter where you are.
Now, how to deal with GS-3? Assuming you are now familiar with the syllabus of GS-
3, we will discuss a topic by topic what to read, from where to read and what not to read
for these topics. TOPIC-1
Three books above will make your concepts very clear. After understanding your
concepts, you have to read the above topics by relating them to the current events. For
this reading one Business newspaper helps a lot. Business standard is the best (if you are
comfortable with ET or FE, it is fine. But do try BS once)
More questions from Economics can be expected in this paper henceforth. To be ready
for any questions that UPSC might ask, it is good to read a standard book on these topics.
There are many books on Indian economy – all bulky. Fortunately, TMH has released a
book on Indian economy for Prelims and Mains, and it is very good (by Ramesh Singh)
I think reading this book is a must. Don’t go for Uma Kapila, Dutt and Sundaram and
Mishra-Puri unless you have plenty of time for these. For now sticking to one good
book is advised.
TOPIC-2
These two documents are good to understand issues related to inclusive growth, approach
of the government and achievements in the 11th plan period. However, to get conceptual
clarity, reading one or two articles from the following document would help you
immensely.
For a thorough review of Inclusive Growth strategy in India read this article:
TOPIC – 3
Government Budgeting
It is nothing but knowing about what is a budget and how it is passed in the parliament
and then how it is implemented.
TOPIC-4
NCERT – Resources and Development (a quick reading of this book will also help in
understanding many other topics in this paper)
Irrigation Methods
Types of Dams (storage structures)
Irrigation types (Government Source)
For agriculture marketing, storage and reforms in these areas, one should resort to ‘State
of India Agriculture report’ and Economic Survey.
TOPIC – 5
Issues related to direct and indirect farm subsidies and minimum support
prices; Public Distribution System- objectives, functioning, limitations,
revamping; issues of buffer stocks and food security; Technology missions;
economics of animal-rearing
This is the most important topic in this paper – all sub-topics are dynamic in nature and
1-2 questions will be directly asked from these. This topic encompasses the broad area of
Food Security, which is a hot topic these days.
Apart of getting conceptual clarity on these topics, aspirants also have to develop critical
perspective on these sub-topics. I will provide links to important articles that have come
in The Hindu, Business Standard and Business Line.
Regarding Public Distribution System, it is a vast area, so careful study of less materials
is needed.
News Articles;
(You need to know only what these missions were meant for and what’s their progress so
far)
Economics of Animal Breeding! – This has come from nowhere. Study it here
You can have a look at this report of Planning Commission (only 3 pages)
TOPIC – 6
Food processing and related industries in India- scope and significance, location,
upstream and downstream requirements, supply chain management.
Food processing is a sunrise industry and lately there has been a lot of thrust from the
government on this industry.
Articles:
Economic Times
The Hindu Businessline – Untapped Potential
The Hindu Businessline – Key Challenges
TOPIC – 7
Land reforms – 1
Land Reforms – 2
TOPIC – 8
Indian Economy for Civil Services Examinations – Ramesh Singh (Chapters 6 and 10,
4th edition – the above link is for latest 5th edition)
TOPIC-9
Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc
Just two sources; one, India 2013 and Economic Survey
TOPIC – 10
Investment models
This is a puzzling topic. Because it is given along with Infrastructure related topics, I
assume it to be related to investment models applied to the same field. If not, one can
enumerate so many investment models just for financial sector alone!
For example, within PPP model, there are various modalities are involved (see below)
First, for non – science grads, a reading of NCERT Class VI to X Science Texts is
advised. This will clear many concepts for you and will enable you to understand other
topics in the syllabus.
The problem with this book is its vastness – they have simply dumped every topic in
detail like paranoid. For students with science background this book is advised, they have
released 2013 edition – you have to study it selectively. Very selectively. This book has
all the topics that are included in the syllabus and that are not included also.
If one goes through previous question papers, one can observe that UPSC has always
asked questions on S&T from within the syllabus. For example, there will be a question
on biotechnology, space, robotics, nanotechnology and computers – they might be from
latest developments in the respective fields, but all are from the syllabus.
Third source is The Hindu and Frontline. Every Thursday, The Hindu carries a separate
page on S&T – if one is regular with this page and have the collection of cuttings, this
will help in 5 mark and 2 mark questions asked from current event section.
Fourth source is Wikipedia and New Scientist sites. From this site, read articles
on Nanotechnology, Robotics, IPR etc.
Under IPR, you may have to read about Novartis case, so The Hindu article is
here. Also TRIPS is important.
For India’s achievements in the field of S&T, you must read India 2013 Year
Book (chapters on Defence and Scientific and technological developments)
TOPIC-12
This particular topic encompasses topics such as biodiversity and climate change, forest
and wildlife conservation, river conservation, pollution in cities, waste management,
pollution from human activities, marine pollution etc – so it is a vast area.
First choice should be The Hindu Environmental Survey 2012 (they may release 2013
survey now).
Sources from the ministry of environment(look at the left side for related links when
you land on the page):
Annual Report of the Environment Ministry 2012-13 (for chapters on conservation, EIA
and forests etc) – Click Here.
A report on Disaster Management. (read selectively). You will find everything in it you
ever wanted to know about the topic!
SECURITY ISSUES
TOPIC-14
Money Laundering –
For a starter, here is a book just released by Oxford University Press, exclusively on these
topics. Titled ‘India’s National Security – A Reader‘ and written by eminent scholars in
this field, it covers external and internal security threats by state and non-state actors, as
well as nuclear issues too. Read the review here.
You can buy it from Flipkart . (Buy it only after reading the above review)
TOPIC-15
A SMALL LECTURE
Until now we saw what books to read. Now the question is how to remember most of the
things we read and how to translate them into better answers.
A common mistake most of the aspirants commit is reading so many books for a
single topic.This mistake costs both your time and ability to remember things
clearly and concisely.
Stick to a single source and read it again and again. Remember The Same Source.
Avoid the temptation of doing ‘Research’ on a topic.
Always Remember – UPSC tests Basic Understanding. Not mastery over a topic.
Make short notes on each topic. It is while making notes that readers tend to do
RESEARCH and scout various sources. Stick to one book even if you are not
100% satisfied with it.
Remember that old saying? – Jack of all trades, master of NONE. If you try to do
Research, most probably your name won’t appear in the Final List. I guarantee it.
For Paper-II (i.e GS-1) being thorough with Current Events plays a crucial role in
enabling you to acquire analytical skills.
Well, to sum up. To get the interview call all you need to do is: Read, Re-read the same
source, Write and Revise.
Preparation for this paper can be finished in 20 days provided you are focused and
determined.
Of course. Eat well, Sleep well and Keep a good health. If you get a running nose on the
day of the exam, 2 hours out of 3 hours goes in draining it and drying it.
(This article is not final yet. It will be updated soon with further inputs and resources.
Suggestions are welcome.)
UPSC has brought changes to the Civil Services Mains examination in both the pattern
and the syllabus. We know that now there are 4 General Studies Papers apart from one
Essay and Optional paper each. Of these, new paper on Ethics Aptitude and Integrity has
been a headache for many aspirants as quality source is elusive even now when the exam
is nearing.
This article discusses preparation strategy for General Studies – 4 (i.e Paper-IV -Ethics
Aptitude and Integrity )
Before you start reading further, please remember the following important mantra given
by the Almighty UPSC:
“The questions are likely to test the candidate’s basic understanding of all relevant
issues, and ability to analyze, and take a view on conflicting socio‐ economic goals,
objectives and demands. The candidates must give relevant, meaningful and succinct
answers.”
This sentence is the guiding light for your preparation. You don’t have to master the
topics, all you need is BASIC UNDERSTANDING and the ability to analyze. Basic
understanding comes from reading and re-reading. Ability to analyze what you have
understood from reading comes from WRITING PRACTICE.
This article was tough to write as it’s new and sources for this article were difficult to
find.
Sources for this article are diverse. Books published by Oxford, Cambridge university
presses, Springer, Sage publications have been referred. Britannica encyclopedia and
IGNOU materials were of immense help too.
Many PDFs are of advanced nature. You don’t have to read all the PDFs in toto. Read
first few paragraphs to understand the essence. Remember the above UPSC mantra.
Case studies will be covered every day as an article where you can write answers and get
comments from fellow aspirants.
STRATEGY
Introduction to Ethics
Source– Authentic and Good one (read this completely to get conceptual clarity)
Dimensions of ethics
Ethics in private relationships – Read chapter 3 in the link. It’s in Google Books and the
chapter has all pages. It is very good with lots of case studies. If any IT guy can extract
pages and covert them to PDF, please send me a copy.
Human Values
Lessons from the lives and teachings of great leaders, reformers and
administrators
You can read about them from school books or from website. Will provide a list later.
Attitude
Source – 2 – Structure
source – 3 – Functions
Source – 4 – Complex and Specialized (if you can understand! Page no. 38,39…)
Its influence and relation with thought and behaviour
Related Article
Attitude for Good Governance – Read Section Two in Attitude for good
governance and motivation.
Integrity
These are actually civil service values recommended by the second ARC in its
report (10th Report, Chapter 16)
Emotional intelligence
Concept
Source – 1 – Very Basic – Excellent one.
Professionalism and Ethics in Public Service – UN Document. Read only Chapter One
and Conclusion. Problems and Issues about Public service values is given in it.
Ethical Dilemma – In this, read only Chapter One. It is written in foreign context but it’s
applicability is universal.
Ethics in Public Administration – Don’t neglect this document because it’s written by a
research scholar. It is simple and lucid.
Didn’t get any credible source. I will post it when I get one.
Ethics and Governance – T N Chaturvedi (he was CAG and Governor of Karnataka) –
His reflections are insightful.
Ethics in International Relations – Taken from a reputed book and is a primary source on
the topic.
Corporate governance
Corporate Governance – Read it as it contains many new facts and ideas. (not so good,
though)
Probity in Governance
This part of the syllabus is completely covered in the following book. It is written by two
retired IAS officers of Gujarat cadre. All the topics of this part of the syllabus and other
topics of importance are covered in this book.
Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude for Civil Services Main Examination (Paper –
5)
I am giving below PDFs to some topics taken from some UN sites, books and ministries
websites.
Probity in Governance
Codes of Ethics
Codes of Conduct
Citizen’s Charters
Work culture
challenges of corruption
This is basically a general topic. I will compile articles published on this topic in The
Hindu (last year there were many articles on this topic) and give links soon.
Source – 1
Apart from the above book, the following book might be useful as it is written by a
renowned author Ramesh Arora (his books on Public Administration are well received)
Until now we saw what books to read. Now the question is how to remember most of the
things we read and how to translate them into better answers.
A common mistake most of the aspirants commit is reading so many books for a
single topic.This mistake costs both your time and ability to remember things
clearly and concisely.
Stick to a single source and read it again and again. Remember The Same Source.
Avoid the temptation of doing ‘Research’ on a topic.
Always Remember – UPSC tests Basic Understanding. Not mastery over a topic.
Make short notes on each topic. It is while making notes that readers tend to do
RESEARCH and scout various sources. Stick to one book even if you are not
100% satisfied with it.
Remember that old saying? – Jack of all trades, master of NONE. If you try to do
Research, most probably your name won’t appear in the Final List. I guarantee it.
For Paper-II (i.e GS-1) being thorough with Current Events plays a crucial role in
enabling you to acquire analytical skills.
Well, to sum up. To get the interview call all you need to do is: Read, Re-read the same
source, Write and Revise.
Preparation for this paper can be finished in 20 days provided you are focused and
determined.
Of course. Eat well, Sleep well and Keep a good health. If you get a running nose on the
day of the exam, 2 hours out of 3 hours goes in draining it and drying it.
Feel free to point out mistakes, improvements and suggestions. You can also share
material if you have any so that it benefits readers.
Disclaimer: This article is meant to be a blueprint or a road map for your preparation.
It’s not the one stop source for complete preparation of this paper.