PC

Priyanka ChoudharyAIR 79· 1835

GS2GS2

There have been arguments that sedition law is an attack on the very foundation of India's liberal democratic principles, as enshrined in the Constitution. Do you agree? Discuss.

Open scan (p.32)

Main Body

Sect. 124A of Indian Penal Code defines sedition as attempting/defending hatred, contempt and disaffection against a lawfully elected government. This can be by either use of words, written piece or otherwise. Sedition law is attack on foundation of liberal democratic principles — (1) It hampers the freedom of speech & expression - fundamental right (Art 19(1)a) of Constitution. (2) Sedition law has been misused by governments to silence

genuine criticism (2) 'Denies' right to dissent - also a fundamental right (Art 19(1)a). (3) The verifiable non-bailable nature of law's punishment is misused to deny bail to accused. (4) Attack on liberty to express oneself is viewed due as looked under sedition to speak against government's handling of COVID-19. (5) Arbitrary arrests - against Act 20 and Art 22 of constitution. (6) No mechanism for appeal deny right to constitutional remedies (Article 32). however, the historical & present conditions of India need sedition law to —

1Handle internal security threats by Maoists, naxal using extremism or insurgency. (2) Handle terrorist organizations spreading non-state propaganda. (3) Tackle secessionist tendencies amid hostile neighborhood. Way forward — (1) Law Commission recommends to repeal sedition law (2) Criminal laws with mentally opposite to democratic principles must be removed/reformed (3) Put-in-place measures for transparency & reduced bullace (4) and ARC - other in governance Sedition law must be repurposed to meet present needs of India.

Government-e-Marketplace GeM is an online portal from where government procures its lease equipments be goods & office stationery supply of printers. Challenges faced by GeM: (1) Inadequate choices for different products to many times only 1 brand for one product (2) This leads to monopoly & inefficiency. Less competition & ineffective waste taxpayer's money. (3) Non-availability of various

items in COVID times many offices procured emergency hand-held thermometer outside GeM. (4) opportunity to procure & COVID time saw the ban on prices of families to more than double. (5) Less efficient supply chainnon-delivery to remote local-time - adding to regional disparities by not promoting government at those places. Improvement in procurement of goods & services — (1) Transparency in procurementreduced corruptioneasier track of expenditure (2) Government has streamlinedeasy access to goods not
available in far remote areaspromoted standardized theory of comparative advantage of nationalist market.proper resource allocation (3) Easier tracking of delivery time (4) Increased digitisation of various office & functions (5) Competitive pricing & efficiency in money for value. Way forward — (1) Public procurement guidelinesprice ceilings on essential items guidelines to improve supply chain (2) empowering reviews private sector criteria, etc. - increase good availability & competition To realise goals of digital India we must put impetus on GeM.
455 words1 paragraphs

Conclusion

Sedition law must be repurposed to meet present needs of India. To realise goals of digital India we must put impetus on GeM.

23 words

Topper

Priyanka Choudhary

AIR 791835

Subject & Paper

GS2GS2

Topic

Indian Constitution - Historical Underpinnings, Evolution, Features, Amendments, Significant Provisions and Basic Structure

Fundamental Rights

Freedom of Speech and Sedition Law

Writing Stats

478

Total words

1

Paragraphs

critical-analytical

Tone

Linked PYQ

There is a technological company named ABC Incorporated which is the second largest worldwide, situated in the Third World. You are the Chief Executive Officer and the majority shareholder of this company. The fast technological improvements have raised worries among environmental activists, regulatory authorities, and the general public over the sustainability of this scenario. You confront substantial issues about the business’s environmental footprint. In 2023, your organization had a significant increase of 48% in greenhouse gas emissions compared to the levels recorded in 2019. The significant rise in energy consumption is mainly due to the surging energy requirements of your data centers, fuelled by the exponential expansion of Artificial Intelligence (AI). AI-powered services need much more computational resources and electrical energy compared to conventional online activities, notwithstanding their notable gains. The technology’s proliferation has led to a growing concern over the environmental repercussions, resulting in an increase in warnings. AI models, especially those used in extensive machine learning and data processing, exhibit much greater energy consumption than conventional computer tasks, with an exponential increase. Although there is already a commitment and goal to achieve net zero emissions by 2030, the challenge of lowering emissions seems overwhelming as the integration of AI continues to increase. To achieve this goal, substantial investments in renewable energy use would be necessary. The difficulty is exacerbated by the competitive environment of the technology sector, where rapid innovation is essential for preserving market standing and shareholders’ worth. To achieve a balance between innovation, profitability and sustainability, a strategic move is necessary that is in line with both, business objectives and ethical obligations. (a) What is your immediate response to the challenges posed in the above case? (b) Discuss the ethical issues involved in the above case. (c) Your company has been identified to be penalized by technological giants. What logical and ethical arguments will you put forth convince about its necessity? (d) Being a conscience being, what measures would you adopt to maintain balance between AI innovation and environment footprint?

20M2024Discuss