Yojana Summary – December 2022

Re-structuring Urban Galaxies

Topics covered from the Syllabus:

Context: The fast-paced, modern lifestyle has contributed to the economic development of the country. However, the price has been paid by the society and deteriorating health care situation in the country.

Harmful Effect of Growth of Cities

• Organic Growth: It refers to the growth of any entity in a natural manner. For e.g., in historical evolution, it has been seen that habitations develop around the areas having sufficient resources for sustaining the population. Organic growth is a factor in sustainable development (which refers to the use of resources without compromising on the needs of future generations).
• History of Development of Cities: The early civilizations developed around sources of water and caves (which acted as a shelter for the people). Later on, forests were preferred because of their utility as a source of food and wood (for construction). In modern times, economic activity is generally considered the most crucial factor in determining the relative importance of a city.
• Limitations of Over-centralization: The growth of any entity must be limited to a specific size, beyond which it becomes very difficult to sustain. This is not only true for biological organisms like dinosaurs, but also for the cities. A city growing beyond the ‘ultimate’ size is bound to collapse due to internal pressures like congestion, inadequate housing, crime, poverty and so on.
• Quality of Life: It must be remembered that while planning a city, quality of life of the residents is the topmost consideration. By improving the infrastructure, and providing facilities and amenities in the city, the functioning of the city might improve but it might not necessarily be conducive to the quality and standard of life of the residents.
• Urban Galaxies: The interconnection between megacities and the smaller towns takes the shape of urban galaxies on the map of a country. It is comprised of star–like large metropolises, contained between the dark space-like empty tracts. The suburban areas resemble the glow of the large stars.

Modern vs Traditional Way of Life

• Harnessing Twin Challenge: Overburdening a mega city not only degrades the quality of life of its residents, but also denudes the nearby smaller towns. On one hand, the continued expansion in cities leads to larger distances, longer commute times and a tired workforce. On the other hand, the nearby towns suffer from migration and destruction of local crafts.
• Overburdened Agglomerations: Large cities result in mass production of goods, heavily polluting industrial centres, a large transport network, bigger residential complexes with less recreational space, large banking systems with higher interest rates and overpaid, yet tired workforce, all of whom are dependent on exhaustible resources like land and water.
• Uniqueness: In contrast to the cities, towns in India have their unique character, which is closely knit with the availability of resources and is in sync with the local skills. It provides a unique, local flavour to the towns and preserves diversity of such places. It also promotes spiritual and cultural growth in a region, which is equally important to the physical growth.
• Conventional Way of Life: As compared to urban life, rural people are usually dependent upon the non-motorised means of transport, which are greener and quieter. They also have an inherent respect for environment, including the forests and wildlife. Similarly, social intermingling and dependency still exists in the rural areas, promoting cooperation.
• Economies of Scale: In urban industries, economies of scale refer to mass production and profit maximisation. However, in rural areas, economies of scale are manifest in the daily, weekly and monthly haats or village markets. Such markets are beneficial for both, buyers, as well as, sellers. For buyers, such markets offer choice and opportunity to bargain, while for the sellers, they offer an increased number of buyers.
• Increased Satisfaction Levels: By conceiving multiple clusters of rural towns, provisioned with urban facilities and amenities, people get the opportunity to live near their roots. This enhances the satisfaction level of population, and promotes cultural propagation and life enrichment.
• Shared Responsibility: Rural areas have been at the centre of cooperative movements. For e.g., Amul in Gujarat, farmer cooperatives in Punjab and textile mills in Ahmedabad. Such movements have proven the potential of employment generation and wealth creation via shared responsibility in a region.

Conclusion

• India is rapidly transitioning from a developing country to a developed country. However, it is important to understand that not all changes being effected in the socio-economic scenario of the country are in the positive direction. There is a need to carry forward the good aspects of traditional lifestyle in order to sustain such transition.

Practice Question

• Discuss the dichotomy between the rural way of life and modern lifestyle. How can the synthesis between the two be helpful for the people?

UPSC PYQs

• ‘Globalization is generally said to promote cultural homogenization but, due to this, cultural specificities appear to be strengthened in the Indian Society. Elucidate. (GS1: 2018)
• Explain intra-generational and inter-generational issues of equity from the perspective of inclusive growth and sustainable development. (GS1: 2020)

Topics covered from the Syllabus:

Context: Indian government has initiated Accessible India campaign to improve the accessibility of public services to Persons with Disabilities (PwDs).

Issues being faced by Persons with Disabilities (PwDs)

• Disability: The literal definition of disability is ‘the state of being unable to properly use a body part’. However, disability is not limited to an individual and has multiple dimensions. It can be based upon culture, language, climate, topography, gender and abilities of people. For instance, not being allowed to enter a temple because of one’s gender is an imposed disability.
• Disability as a Social Construct: It is to be understood that rather than actually being a limitation on the capabilities of a person, disability is more of a social construct. A place or service is as accessible to a person as it is made to be. For instance, building a ramp to a public place or employing workers who can understand sign language is a choice to be made for enhancing inclusion.
• Challenges faced by PwDs: As of now, PwDs face enormous challenges in building complexes like inadequate lighting, innumerable steps, uneven pavements, pigeonholed doors etc. Similarly, many a times, there is a lack of blind–friendly tiling and pathways on the streets and footpaths. Also, signage and alarm systems are also not adequately placed. 
• Inclusion: On the basis of above discussion, it can be said that inclusion refers to giving freedom of access to a place. It also includes providing choices as per a person’s taste, economic capability, as well as, functional requirements. Therefore, there is a need to incorporate systems in building and construction, which differ from the traditional approach.
• Traditional Approach: Usually, a construction plan for building a commercial or residential place does not cater to people with special needs and is standardised for common people. Although, this should not be a common practice while even building residential places, it assumes serious proportions if employed in the construction of public places.
• Universal Design: There is a need to promote awareness among the administrators and sensitise them to adopt a holistic approach in designing public places and utilities. Such designs are referred to as universal designs. They provide an insight into a country’s future vision and its sensitivity towards all sections of the society.
• Accessibility as an indicator of Development: Nordic and Scandinavian countries like Sweden and Finland usually stay at the top of empowerment indicators pertaining to PwDs, women and other backward sections. At the same time, they also score high on Human Development Index (HDI), establishing the linkage between human development and empowerment of backward sections of the society.

UN Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities

• UN Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCPRD): The Convention was adopted on 13 December 2006 at the UN headquarters in New York. It opened for signature on 30 March 2007 and finally entered into force on 3 May 2008. On its opening day, the convention was signed by 82 signatories, which is the record for highest number of signatories on the opening day of any UN Convention.
• Objective: The convention aims to change the attitude of people towards PwDs. Rather than viewing them as objects of charity, sympathy or pity, the Convention, instead, views them as subjects having rights, who can claim such rights, make their own life choices based on free and informed consent and be an active member of the society.
• Guiding Principles of the Convention: The Convention has 8 guiding principles, including dignity and individual autonomy including the freedom to make one’s choices, non-discrimination, full participation in the society, acceptance and respect for difference, equality of opportunity, accessibility, and preservation of identity.
• Conference of States Parties (COSP): The member nations who ratify the Convention are called States Parties. As per the provisions of Convention, a COSP is held annually at UN headquarters in New York. The last such conference was held as the 15^th session from 14 to 16 June 2022.
• Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD): The Convention provides for Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). It consists of 12 independent experts, who meet in Geneva, usually twice or thrice a year. The number of members of the committee would increase to 18 following additional ratifications or ascensions to the Convention.
• Functions of CRPD: The committee monitors implementation of the Convention by the States parties, considers their reports and addresses their concerns. States parties must submit their report to the committee within two years of signing the convention and, thereafter, every four years.
• Accessible India Campaign (Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan): India signed the UN Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) in 2007. In compliance with its obligations under the Convention, Accessible India Campaign was launched by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment on 3 December 2015 (International Day of Persons with Disabilities).

Accessible India Campaign

• Persons with Disabilities (PwDs): As per the census 2011 data, almost 2.2% of Indian population is suffering from one or more disabilities. By not enabling such a huge population and excluding them from economic activity, the country is losing on a huge opportunity for furthering economic growth and development.
• Persons with Disabilities Act, 1995 (PwDs Act, 1995): As per the provisions of the PwDs Act, 1995, the government is obliged to provide equal opportunities, act to prohibit discrimination, as well as, ensure protection of rights of the PwDs. Accessible India Campaign is a step in the direction to implement India’s commitments towards PwDs.
• Objective of Accessible India Campaign: Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan seeks to achieve universal accessibility for Persons with Disabilities. Further, it seeks to resolve the issue of integration of various entities during construction of a project. In construction projects, the experts work on smaller sub-projects in isolation and do not have the whole picture in mind. They lack the knowledge of the complete structure, which prevents them from incorporating minute details in the Project, which can enhance its accessibility.
• Components of Accessible India Campaign: The campaign has three major components, viz. build environment, transportation and the ICT ecosystem. The latter two components refer to improvement of accessibility to public transportation services like bus, railway, planes etc., and to public websites and documents respectively.

• Build Environment: The first component refers to elimination of barriers and obstacles to public places and services, like schools, hospitals, parks, roads, footpaths etc. Also, the Department of Empowerment of PwDs is working on a universal code, which if followed, can improve accessibility in construction projects.
• Audit of Buildings: Accessibility audits are required to determine whether a building meets the prescribed standards for inclusivity and universal design. Once the construction is complete, there is no further requirement of such audit, although it will be again required in case of any proposed changes to the initial design.

• Sugamya Bharat App: The Ministry has launched an app as part of the campaign to enhance the awareness about the three pillars of Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan. The app allows the user to raise complaints about accessibility to public places and services, register positive feedback for the various initiatives taken in the direction and acts as a repository of best practices.

• Response to Feedback: A good administrative policy is always responsive to the feedback of end users. Sugamya Bharat seeks to acknowledge the issues being faced by differential users in accessing public places and incorporate solutions to such issues in designing and construction of the public places.

Conclusion

• Being a signatory to the UN Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities, India has done well to initiate the Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan. Divyangjan constitute a significant part of Indian population and can contribute to the socio-economic development of the country. It is expected that the campaign is implemented in a mission mode to improve accessibility for the Persons with Disabilities to public places.

 Practice Question

• Enumerate the steps taken by the government to improve accessibility to public places for the Persons with Disabilities in the country. Also, discuss further improvements required in existing institutions to facilitate divyangjan in achieving their full potential.

UPSC PYQs

• Does the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 ensure effective mechanism for empowerment and inclusion of the intended beneficiaries in the society? Discuss. (GS2: 2017)
• Do government’s schemes for up-lifting vulnerable and backward communities by protecting required social resources for them, lead to their exclusion in establishing businesses in urban economics? (GS2: 2014)

Topics covered from the Syllabus:

Context: Experts have flagged the increasingly indoor lifestyle being adopted by the today’s generation as not conducive to health.

Changes in Modern World

• Living against Nature: It has been pointed out that modern lifestyles are not in sync with nature. For e.g., earlier, the circadian rhythms of people were aligned with day and night. People used to wake up and sleep, as per sunrise and sunset respectively. This was necessitated so as to save daylight, as artificial light was not efficient and was not adequately available.

• Changes in Lifestyle: However, with an increase in energy generation and availability of round-the-clock electricity, the sleeping and waking hours have shifted. This is facilitated by increased accessibility and provision of amenities in the modern residential complexes.

• Social intermingling: Similarly, in the villages, it was customary for everyone to meet at a common point in the evening. This provided necessary relaxation, social time, as well as breathing space for the body. However, nowadays, this practice has been replaced with browsing social media and phone calls.

• Lack of Natural Ventilation: Such indoor activities and isolation have robbed the body of the opportunity for natural ventilation. As a result, the body and mind have to remain content with artificial ventilation and recirculated air of the Air Conditioners. This is not conducive for the overall health and well-being of the mind and body

• Definition of Health: At the same time, the conventional definition of health has undergone a change in recent times. Earlier, absence of diseases was defined as good health. However, now, World Health Organisation (WHO) has defined health as ‘a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being.’ In fact, now, health has various dimensions (see inset).

• Health and Wellness Centres: India is in sync with the WHO’s definition of health and has taken active steps to promote the overall well-being of people. For instance, providing funding for setting up health and wellness centres for primary health care is an important component of Ayushman Bharat.

Architecture Policies in Sync with Health Priorities

• History of Building and City Planning: Most of the current urban plans are based on the principles agreed upon in All India Sanitary Conference, held in Lucknow in 1914. Adequate lighting formed the basis of conference and the width of streets was set so as to ensure adequate sunlight and ventilation in the interiors of house, situated on both sides of the streets.

• Mosquito proof House: The same conference pioneered the concept of mosquito free house, which had wire mesh installed on the windows and doors of the house. This idea might sound trivial today but it was not short of a revolution at that time.

• Importance of Sunlight and Ventilation: Earlier, in the absence of drugs, proper sunlight and ventilation were the only cure available for deadly diseases like tuberculosis. However, this idea has been reinforced in the modern times of COVID pandemic, as the experts advised against recirculation of air during the spread of the pandemic, as it could have led to the spread of corona virus.
• Global Examples: India is on the cusp of transformation from being a developing country to a developed one. In this endeavour, it will require both traditional knowledge, as well as, modern technologies. The experience of development of great cities like London, Paris and Singapore can be harnessed so as to avoid reinventing the wheel.
• Non-communicable Diseases: Modern lifestyle has led to an increase in non-communicable diseases like stress, anxiety, depression, breathing issues, heart disorders as well as mental problems. However, various interventions in architecture have the potential to optimise the lifestyle so as to ameliorate such issues.

• Spaces for Recreation: A proper city plan would include adequate number of parks and open spaces for recreation of people. These can be fitted with modern equipment to improve lifestyle activities. For instance, the concept of open gyms has recently been introduced in India and has seen a good response from the people.

• Bicycle Tracks: Similarly, the availability of bicycle tracks on the sides of the roads would promote physical activity among the population. It can also be supplemented by pay-per-use bicycle stands, which can be used by the people as per their requirement. However, care should be taken to keep such tracks encroachment-free and maintain their continuity.
• Walking Plaza: Many cities have experimented with walking Plazas, in which, vehicle entry is banned on the roads for a specific time period in the morning and evening to facilitate people in their morning and evening walks. Such no-car zones also improve the aesthetics of roads and nearby green zones.

• Promoting Awareness: At the same time, there is a need to educate people about best practices in order to improve their health. For instance, most of the people do not know the impact of carcinogens, like paint and varnish used on the furniture, on the health of living beings. People must be made aware that prolonged inhalation of such compounds may lead to cancer.
• Effect of Aesthetics: There is a need for proper landscaping and promotion of well-designed campuses for improvement of overall well-being. Such efforts reduce stress and anxiety, and nurture the spirit and soul of the body, especially after a tough day at office.
• Need for Balanced Development: As stated earlier, India is poised for a great transformation. It is imperative that such transformation should keep in mind the needs of urban rich, as well as, rural poor and the city slums.

• Large Infrastructure Projects: The recent times have seen a spurt in growth of modern infrastructure projects like New Parliament Complex, Convention Centres and tallest statues in the country. These projects have announced the arrival of new India to the world.
• PM Awas Yojana: At the same time, PM Awas Yojana is a commendable effort of the government of India to provide housing to the people living in the slums. This will promote balanced development in the society and will have multiplier effect on the economy of the country.
• Incorporation of Building Codes: The need of the hour is to incorporate the National Building Code 2016 and National Lighting Code in the ongoing and upcoming projects to ensure the development of safe, healthy and sturdy building complexes in the country.

Conclusion

• With the change in lifestyle, the population is facing the risk of spread of health issues, especially the non-communicable diseases. This makes it important for the policy-makers to accommodate changes in the projects in such a way that they promote physical activity, decrease isolation and contribute to a healthy lifestyle.

Practice Question

• Analyze the health issues being faced by the modern generation due to its contemporary lifestyle. How can the policy changes in architecture contribute to a better living?

UPSC PYQs

• In order to enhance the prospects of social development, sound and adequate health care policies are needed particularly in the fields of geriatric and maternal health care. Discuss. (GS2: 2020)
• Despite Consistent experience of High growth, India still goes with the lowest indicators of human development. Examine the issues that make balanced and inclusive development elusive. (GS2: 2019)

Topics covered from the Syllabus:

Context: India has taken over the presidency of G20 from Indonesia and is set to organize the G20 summit in Delhi next year.

What is G20?

• Group of 20 (G20): It is one of the foremost international groups, looking into Global economic cooperation and governance. It comprises 19 major economies of the world, apart from the European Union. In its summits, international organizations like UN, IMF, World Bank, WHO, WTO, ILO, FSB and OECD are also invited.

• Guests: In addition to the regular members, Spain, two African countries (including the chair of African Union), chair of ASEAN and any other countries invited by the host country, are also invited as the guests to the summit.

• Evolution of G20: G20 owes its origin to Asian financial crisis of 1997 (see inset). Initially, G20 was conceived as a forum for the discussion of Finance Ministers and the Governors of Central Banks of major economies, and focused on macroeconomic issues affecting the global economy. The first meeting of G20 was held in Berlin in December 1999.

• Other Issues: However, later ancillary issues like trade, energy, sustainable development, climate change, environment, health etc. were also included under the ambit of G20.
• Global Financial Crisis of 2007: The clout of G20 increased after the spread of Sub-Prime Crisis in 2007-08, which led to the Global Financial Recession. The global impact of recession, and the need for united and integrated approach to economic recovery saw the upgradation of G20 to Summit level.

• Significance of G20: The countries of G20 account for 80% of the global economy, 75% of the global trade, two-thirds of the global population, as well as 60% of the global land area. G20 nations include both developed as well as developing economies, thus, providing a forum for discussing major issues requiring global attention.
• Secretariat of G20: G20 does not have a permanent secretariat. The secretarial work is carried out by outgoing President, current President and future President, referred to as the Troika. For e.g., the current troika includes Indonesia, India and Brazil respectively. India has taken over the presidency of G20 from Indonesia in December 2022 and will subsequently hand it over to Brazil in 2023.

• Permanent secretariat: France proposed a permanent secretariat for G20 in 2010, with Paris or Seoul as possible alternatives. Similarly, South Korea proposed a cyber-secretariat in place of a physical one. However, none of the proposals have been approved till now.

• Working of G20: The Presidency of G20 rotates among its members. Thematic meetings and discussions are held throughout the year in two separate tracks – Finance track and Sherpa track. While the Finance track focuses on broad macroeconomic issues, Sherpa track takes care of other themes, as decided by the host.

• Sherpa: Each country designates a Sherpa to carry out meetings and discussions throughout the year. The outcome of such meetings is signed as an agreement in the final summit, attended by the heads of member nations.

Significance of India’s Presidency

• 18^th Summit in Delhi: The theme for G 20 is – One Earth, One Family, One Future. This theme is inspired from Indian mantra of “Vasudhaiv Kutumbakam”, which is drawn from Maha Upanishad. The phrase literally translates to “whole world is one family”. It is in line with the long-standing Indian belief in worldwide cooperation towards sustainable development.

• Leader’s Declaration: The 18^th summit would be held in Delhi in September 2023. India will be hopeful of achieving a leader’s declaration during the summit, so that Indian presidency would go down as a defining and momentous occasion in the history of the group.

• Agenda setting: The G20 President sets the agenda of the summit, holds discussions and comes out with the outcome document. Therefore, being the G20 President, India has the power to steer discussions, determine the focus area and theme, and raise important issues like health (especially in the context of COVID pandemic) during the summit.

• Leadership Role: After punching below its weight for the last few decades, India has finally emerged onto the global stage, and the presidency of G20 provides a perfect opportunity in this regard. Moreover, India can strengthen its credentials as a world leader during its stint as the President by mediating the debate between the developed West and the Third World countries.

• Invitation to International Organizations: Apart from the usual international organisations, the G20 President can invite other international organisations, civil society organisations and countries. For e.g., India has chosen to invite Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), International Solar Alliance (ISA) and Asian Development Bank (ADB). It will provide valuable exposure to the relatively young organisations like ISA.
• Biggest Democracy: India is the world’s largest democracy. It proudly asserts its democratic values in the global arena. At the same time, being the second most populous country in the world, the voice of India is the manifestation of a large section of global population. This is especially relevant in the context of right to free speech, and free and fair criticism in India.
• Future of G20: Asian countries like India and China are expected to play a bigger role in the global economy going forward. This is also supported by the fact that India was a major country which led the global recovery after 2008 global financial crisis. Therefore, hosting of G20 summit in India is an opportune moment for the grooming of future leaders.
• Voice of Developing Countries: At the G20 level, India represents the interests of developing countries as well as small nations. For e.g., small island nations in Pacific and other oceans face an existential threat due to climate change. They might cease to exist if the water level rises even a few metres above the current level.
• Tourism Potential: India has planned to showcase the national culture to global media, by holding the ministerial meetings in various cities around the country. At the same time, the summit holds the potential to increase employment opportunities and the overall growth in the economy of the country, due to increased economic activity.

Criticism of G20

• Limited Membership: G20 has faced criticism many a times from various sections of the media, who have stated that it is too small a group to represent the global economy. Notable exclusions include Norway, which is a major developed country and provides substantial funding to the programs of UN. Similarly, Spain’s stature as one of the leading economies makes it a candidate for inclusion in the group, although it is a permanent invitee as a guest to the summits.

• Lack of Inclusivity: At the same time, experts have criticized the selection criteria of the member nations. They have contended that the group does not have enough representation from many parts of the world including Africa.

• Undermining of Current Organizations: Media reports have claimed that G20 has the economic clout which affects the interests of all countries in the world. However, it is a self-appointed group and should not be involved in global economic decision-making as it interferes with the authority of international organizations like WTO, IMF, World Bank etc. In fact, a noted economist suggested placing of G20 as a sub-group within UN.
• Other issues: Many a times, the host nations have seen protests due to prohibitive costs of holding a summit. Further, the critics have called out the member nations for their fossil subsidies and contribution to climate change. Similarly, the Western nations have called for the exclusion of Russia from the group due to its invasion of Crimea and Ukraine. Furthermore, media reports have pointed out that the group does not have the ability to enforce its decisions.

Conclusion

• The presidency of G20 is an opportunity for India to convert its status from a regional power to a superpower. Using this opportunity, India can strengthen its credentials and can set the tone for further expansion of UN Security Council. At the same time, it can also convert the event into a historic one by facilitating the countries to arrive at a historically significant agreement.

Practice Question

• Discuss the importance of G20 and the possible areas in which India can contribute to further strengthen the grouping. Also, highlight the need for reform in global economic and security architecture.

UPSC PYQs

• “The broader aims and objectives of WTO are to manage and promote international trade in the era of globalization. But the Doha round of negotiations seem doomed due to differences between the developed and the developing countries.” Discuss in the Indian perspective. (GS2: 2016)
• Discuss the impediments India is facing in its pursuit of a permanent seat in UN Security Council. (GS2: 2015)