Topic: Effects of Globalisation on Indian society, Social Empowerment, Communalism, Regionalism & Secularism.
Q1. Globalisation has taken women out of traditional bonds but put them in the face of newer means of exploitation. Examine. (15 marks)
Model Structure
Introduction:
- As per OECD, The term globalisation is generally used to describe an increasing internationalisation of markets for goods and services, the means of production, financial systems, competition, corporations, technology and industries.
Main Body:
Globalisation has taken women out of traditional bonds:
- New assignment of roles: Women earlier were restricted to kitchens due to patriarchy and subordination. But now, with the flow of new ideas due to globalisation, women have become independent, and they have acquired a major role in decision-making in families and society.
- Reduction of social evils: The women-centric social evils such as Sati, child marriage, female foeticide, etc, have been reduced through the evolution of thinking practices aided by globalisation.
- Status in society: With exposure to other successful women in the world, Indian society too has seen the upliftment of the Status of women.
- Employment opportunities: Globalisation led to the outsourcing of work around the world. It generated new employment opportunities particularly beneficial to women.
- For eg, BPO services.
- Increased authority: Economic dependency of women on men is reducing as more and more women will work in globalised businesses. This gives more authority to women within the family too.
- Joint conjugal roles: With women taking up roles of breadwinner, the toxic masculinity is weakening, which is seen in joint conjugal roles in the household.
Globalisation is opening newer means of exploitation:
- Commodification of women: under the garb of globalisation, western lifestyle has been dominating the world.
- This has led to commodification of women in movies, songs etc.
- Double Shift burden: Despite working full time, women are still expected to fulfill the household duties.
- Increasing divorces and Single mother families: Due to loss of traditional values, relationships are breaking apart frequently.
- This has given rise to a high prevalence of single mother families where women face even more burden.
- Issues regarding physical health: Full time indulgence in jobs and household activities have taken a toll on women’s health. Lifestyle diseases have become prevalent.
- This has created health issues. As per NFHS, more than 50% of women between the ages of 15-49 are anemic.
- Mental health issues: Increased burden of work and responsibilities, coupled with a lack of family support system, gives rise to mental health issues in women. Actions such as suicide have become more regular.
- According to WHO data, the age-standardised suicide rate in India is 16.4 per 100,000 for women (6th highest in the world)
- Unequal status at work: Though globalisation helped women reach the office. But they are still facing the glass ceiling. Moreover, the gender pay gap also exists.
- According to the Gender Gap Index in 2020, India has slipped to the 112th position.
- Harassment at workplace: The harassment which used to take place inside the house has now been shifted to the workplace with several women leaving their jobs due to workplace harassment.
- Women related crimes: Since mobilisation among women has increased, it has also exposed them to more crimes like rapes, stalking, online bullying etc.
- A total of 4,05,861 cases of crime against women were registered during 2019, showing an increase of 7.3% over 2018 (NCRB report)
Conclusion
- Globalisation has proved to be a double-edged sword for Indian women. It is time that the government takes more steps to eliminate the dark side of globalisation faced by women to achieve gender equality which is also a sustainable development goal (SDG 5).
Q2. Despite underlying unity, regionalism has been a long-term trend in India. Elucidate. (15 marks)
Model Structure
Introduction:
- Our ability to stay united despite the diversity of religion, languages, caste, and culture is the beauty of India. But despite this fundamental value, there is a long-term trend of regionalism in present India.
- Regionalism is basically affection toward a particular region on the basis of language, culture, ethnicity, geography, etc.
Main Body:
Underlying Unity in India
- Unity in diversity: Despite its plurality India stands with her unity without compromising with her diverse culture, religion, and languages.
- United by law: A country with multiple languages, and every major religion of the world, has over 700 different tribes under one constitution and one national flag.
- Common feeling: Shared feeling of oneness and identity of being an Indian citizen shows underlying unity in India.
- United by the Ideals of the freedom struggle: Indian people fought for freedom with a common identity as Indians, irrespective of religious, social and cultural differences. These memories of the freedom struggle keep India united.
- Political unity: We adopted a democratic system of politics all over India with centre-state coordination and special provisions for some states. This has kept India politically united.
Despite Underlying unity, regionalism is a long-term trend in India as
- Geographical reason: Complex nature of Boundary disputes, with no immediate solution. It also has become a matter of state prestige now.
- E.g. Maharashtra and Karnataka over the Belgaum region.
- Consistency of water dispute: Water is a fundamental resource, every state wants a maximum share of it, thus making water dispute complex.
- For e.g. Andhra Pradesh and Telangana over Krishna River, Chhattisgarh and Odisha over Mahanadi are still unresolved.
- Historical and Cultural reasons: Permanent Cultural differences like Cultural and language differences between the north and south are keeping the flame of regionalism alive in India.
- For e.g. tussle between North and South India over the Hindi language is failing to find common ground.
- Permanent Intrastate Linguistic and cultural diversity: Fear of suppression of language and culture in multicultural and multilingual states still persists.
- Failing to tackle this fear is making regionalism more persistent, e.g., the Demand for the creation of Gorkhaland.
- Failing to solve complexities in the Northeast: Despite several constitutional and legislative measures for giving autonomy to the Northeastern states, their problems are still not resolved.
- Further, organisations like the National socialist council of Nagaland and Kamtapur Liberation Organisation are taking advantage of such complexity and making solutions to the regionalism complex in the northeast.
- Economic Reason: Huge Development Disparity in India, development is concentrated within certain clusters only.
- E.g. Western Uttar Pradesh is more developed than Eastern it is creating a sense of deprivation among people of the underdeveloped region, which fuelling regionalism
- Political and Administrative reason: Political use of sentiments as several regional political parties have their existence on regional issues only.
- They use regional sentiment for vote bank politics. So it is beneficial for them to keep regionalism active, making it a long-term trend.
Conclusion
- Understanding the link between organized crime and terrorism is of prime importance, especially when forces are deployed at fragile borders, our interiors cannot act as another front of terror activities.
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Q3. World Bank data suggests one twelfth of the Indian population comprises persons living with benchmark disability. In this context, discuss the steps taken by the government of India for persons with disabilities and enumerate the issues in the steps taken. (10 marks)
Model Structure
Introduction
- As per 2011 census data, 2.21% of Indian population is differently abled but recent World Bank data suggests that this number is close to 8% amounting to around 10 crore people.
Main Body
- With the passing of the Rights of Persons With Disabilities amendment bill in 2016, types of disabilities were increased from 7 to 21 thus bringing in more people to avail benefits of affirmative action. In addition to this, government has taken many steps like-
- Mental Healthcare Act 2017 was passed to protect the rights of mentally challenged and fulfill obligations towards them during delivery of mental healthcare and services.
- The Rehabilitation Council of India Act 1992 monitors training of rehabilitation professionals and advances research in this area.
- India has committed to inclusive and rights based society by signing documents like ‘Declaration on the Full Participation and Equality of People with Disabilities in the Asia Pacific Region’, Biwako Millennium Framework etc.
- Schemes like Sugamya Bharat, Rsahtriya Vayoshri Yojana, Deendayal Disable Rehabilitation Scheme etc are rolled out to cater the needs of these people.
- Rights of Persons With Disabilities Act 2016 fulfills India’s obligation to UNCRPD.
- Though there are schemes and initiatives in place, but their impact has been limited due to-
- The Mental Healthcare Act neglects promotion of mental well being and the aspects related to prevention of this issue.
- Rights of Persons With Disabilities Act 2016 is only applicable to the public sector thus giving meager opportunities to the affected.
- Though there are 21 categories now, it is highly skewed in favor of few disabilities only and other categories hardly get any vacancy.
- There is a stigma attached to these people and less efforts are being made to induce changes in curriculum and spread awareness to bring overall inclusivity.
Conclusion
- Though there are schemes and initiatives, actual implementation is an issue. A case in point is the huge amount of vacancies at university level and the problems associated with one size fits all approach. So there has to be proper implementation and calibrated approach to ensure better effectiveness of government initiatives.
Q4. Though India is largely a peace-loving nation. Cases of communalisation of Indian society surface now and then. What are the factors behind it? Elaborate on the steps needed to ensure harmony and tolerance. (15 Marks)
Model Structure
Introduction:
- Communalism is a feeling of strong allegiance to one’s ethnic group rather than to society as a whole. The basis of allegiance may be: such as language, ethnicity, region, religion etc. In India, communalism as a social phenomenon is based on mutual religious hatred.
Main Body:
Factors responsible for the growth of Communalism in India:
- Economic: Poverty:
- Mass poverty and unemployment create a sense of frustration among the people. It generates backwardness, illiteracy, ignorance, etc.
- The unemployed youth of both communities can be easily trapped by religious fundamentalists and fanatics. They are used by them to cause communal riots. The weak economic status often breeds communalism.
- Historic:
- British rule: On the basis of the “Two Nation” theory of Jinnah, India was partitioned. The “Divide and Rule” policy of the British Government served their colonial interest. The partition of India was the outcome of their politics.
- Presence of Communal Parties: Religion in India has become an important agency of political socialization. A number of communal and sectarian political parties and organizations are present in India. Muslim League, Jamaat—Islami, Hindu Mahasabha, Akali Dal, and Vishwa Hindu Parishad are directly or indirectly responsible for the emergence of communalism.
- Isolation of Muslims: Indian Muslims have developed a tendency of isolationism even long after the creation of Pakistan. They remain aloof from the mainstream of national politics.
- Hindu Chauvinism: The growth of Hindu chauvinistic attitudes have further strengthened the communal tensions in India. The Hindu religious groups like Shiv Sena, Hindu Mahasabha, and Vishwa Hindu Parisad often pressurise the government to take steps suitable to the interest of Hindus.
- Social Cause:
- The two major communities of India have been suspicious of each other. The Muslims complain about the threat of the Hindu majority.
- Cross-Border factors: Communal tensions in India sometimes are highly intensified due to the rule of two neighbouring theocratic countries. These countries try to create communal problems in the border states. The communal problems of Punjab and Jammu Kashmir are caused due to provocation of Pakistan.
- Political: Both the Union and the State Governments often fail to prevent communalism in the country. Due to a lack of prior information, they fail to take any preventive measures. Also cases of vote bank politics.
Steps to check the growth of Communalism:
- Economic:
- Poverty is one of the major factors for communal violence. Poverty alleviation measures are thus important for promoting communal harmony.
- Eradicating the problem of unemployment among the youths, illiteracy and poverty and that too with honesty and without any discrimination.
- Reducing educational and economic backwardness of minorities like Muslims.
- This can uplift their socio-economic status and reduce their deprivation compared to Hindus (Sachar committee).
- Social:
- The religious leaders and preachers should promote rational and practical things through religion promoting peace and security.
- Children in schools must be taught through textbooks and pamphlets to maintain brotherhood and respect for all religions
- Creating awareness in the society about the ill effects of communism through mass media
- Political:
- Political communism should be avoided recent Supreme court’s directives
- Identification and mapping of riot prone areas. For Example, Delhi police used drones to monitor to maintain vigil during communal festivals
- Media, movies and other cultural platforms can be influential in promoting peace and harmony.
- Social Media should be monitored for violent and repulsive content and taken off immediately.
Recommendations of the Committee on National Integration
- Joint celebration of community festivals
- Observing restraint by Hindus while taking processions before the mosques
- Formation of peace and brotherhood communities at the local level to prevent anti-social elements from engaging in communal riots
- Respect for religious customs, rituals and practices
Conclusion
- Jawaharlal Nehru had pointed out the issue and termed it as the greatest danger. And so he said that anyone who loves India would hate communalism and anyone who hates India would love communalism
Q5. Indian secularism is not based on strict separation between religion and state, but on principled distance and equal respect for all religions. Discuss. (10 marks)
Introduction
Indian secularism has evolved from India’s multi-religious society and civilisational pluralism. Unlike the Western model, it does not demand complete separation of religion and state.
Main Body
Features of Indian Secularism
1. Equal Respect, Not Anti-Religion
- Indian secularism means sarva dharma sambhava—equal respect for all religions.
- The State does not privilege one religion as the official religion.
- Articles 25–28 guarantee freedom of conscience, worship, propagation and religious management.
2. Principled Distance
- The State can engage with religion when required for reform, equality and social justice.
- Example: abolition of untouchability, temple entry reforms, regulation of religious endowments.
- Thus, the State neither blindly interferes nor completely withdraws.
3. Protection of Minorities
- Articles 29–30 protect cultural and educational rights of minorities.
- This ensures that secularism is not merely individual freedom but also group protection.
Challenges
- Communal violence, politicisation of religion and identity-based mobilisation weaken secular values.
Conclusion
Thus, Indian secularism is a context-sensitive model based on equal respect, reform and constitutional morality.
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