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DESCRIPTIVE ENGLISH
What is Descriptive English ?
Test of English is an important section in the Written Tests of Bank exams. Descriptive English
is mainly the test of how you express your views in appropriate words. Descriptive paper in
Banking exams comprises various sections like Essay writing, Paragraph writing, Prcis writing
and Letter Writing. It helps in testing the writing skills of the candidates. What usually happens
is a candidate might be good in appearing in the objective type test but generally he is found to
be weak in attempting descriptive type questions. Banks are now emphasizing on this aspect
and therefore our attempt here is to motivate and prepare each and every candidate for this
Descriptive paper.
What is the importance of Descriptive English paper in various competitive exams ?
The descriptive paper in competitive exams proves to be a vital part in deciding the candidates
sufficiency for being an officer or a successful employee in any bank. You have to know your
surroundings to be successful in this test. Not all PSUs have this paper and even the banks that
have this paper have their own types of questions. But the basic idea remains the same, to
extract your knowledge on your surroundings.
How to prepare for IBPS Descriptive Paper ?
In the descriptive test normally candidates are required to write essay type answers to the
questions which are based on situations, current topics, topics of common interest, national
issues etc. The questions are basic in nature and not much preparation is required for it. However
since you have to qualify that, therefore your objective should be to write very well in the given
time. In case you are not comfortable with this section what you can do is, try to write short notes
on life situations and current topics regularly. For this you will have to read newspapers, magazines
on current topics on a regular basis. From there you will be able to extract sufficient information
regarding all the topics that may come in the exam.
Regarding, writing in English one should always be aware of the few points such as knowing
where the capital letters are used and the ability to use grammar with no mistakes. Also using
commas properly while joining two sentences and full stops after the completion of every single
sentence makes it look professional.
What are common Tips/ suggestions while preparing for Descriptive Exams ?
In order to write an interesting and effective descriptive essay, you will need to describe a person,
object, or event so vividly that the reader feels like he/ she could reach out and touch it. Here are
some of the very basic suggestions through which you can achieve your goal of qualifying in the
Descriptive paper in your written exams:
Get right to the action
Avoid long introductions and lengthy descriptions especially at the beginning of your
answers.
Decide
First decide what you want to describe. Just because it is a descriptive paper, does not imply
that every aspect of the topic has to be expressed in great details. Choose one part of the topic
and stick to describing it vividly.
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Purpose of description
Keep the purpose of your answer in your mind when you are writing your answer.
What should you include
Remember that a descriptive essay is all about the explanation and depiction of the person or
event or object that youve chosen to describe.
Drafting your answer
Make an outline of all the aspects you want to take into consideration and try to jot down what
details you should include to ensure that you have a brilliant description that will leave an impression
on the reader.
Avoid unnecessary description
Ensure that you do not go overboard with describing each and every portion of the essay. Limit
your description to what youve decided will be the focus of the answer.
Clarify why the topic you have chosen is important
After you have chosen what topic you want to write on, question yourself, why you have chosen
it and why it is important.
Appeal to reader
Your answers should be written in such a manner that it should appeal to the senses of the
reader. Use simple yet apt words which could easily be understood. You can use your personal
experiences too.
Be creative
Try to use original ideas especially for your essays. Facts and figures are less important in a
Descriptive Paper.
Present the Ideas systematically
Always try to be organized with your answer. Proceed step by step.
PATTERN OF DESCRIPTIVE ENGLISH IN EXAMS
Descriptive English Paper consists of the following:
(1) Prcis Writing
(2) Letter Writing
(3) Composition
We would describe each of the above mentioned topic in detail in the following chapters. Here is
a brief note on each of them.
(1) Precis writing - A prcis is a shortening, in your own words, of a text of written work. You are to
describe as precisely and briefly as possible the substance or main ideas contained in a text. A
well written prcis should be a serviceable substitute for the original work. The goal is to preserve
the core essence of the work in a manner that is both clear and concise.
(2) Letter writing It is a technique as well as a mode of communication. Letters are generally of
two types formal and informal. In formal letters, correspondence is made officially, or to
business. Informal letters are generally the ones which we write to our friends or someone
whom we know personally.
(3) Composition/ Essays It is a short literary composition on a single subject, usually presenting
the personal view of the author. An essay should be so constructed that it gives a meaningful
impression to the reader. Essays can be written in various styles but the crux should be effective
and capturing.
Dear Apurva,
I am sorry I couldnt write to you for a long time. I had my fifth semester examination, so
I couldnt spare time. Only today I have finished my exams.
From today we would be busy in making arrangements for our Felicitation Function. Being an
autonomous college, this is our third year function. I would be receiving silver medal for having
secured 2nd rank in the past examination. As I know, our parents cannot come owing to mothers
ill-health. I would be happy, atleast if you could attend the function and be with me for sometime.
His Highness, the Governor of Uttar Pradesh will give away the medals to the best students
selected in the gala function.
I will make arrangements for your accommodation.
Expecting an early and favourable reply.
Yours lovingly,
Kirti
FORMAL LETTERS
Ex-3. Write a leave letter to your Branch Manager.
Hiba,
Canara Bank, R. K. Puram Branch
New Delhi-22
6 November, 2008.
Branch Manager,
Canara Bank, R. K. Puram Branch
New Delhi-22.
Sir,
As my mother is admitted in a hospital at Agra for an operation, I have to be with her. Hence, it
would not be possible for me to attend office for two weeks. Kindly grant me special permission
to take 15 days leave.
Thank you,
Yours Truly,
Malvi
APPLICATIONS AND OFFICIAL LETTERS
Ex-4. Write a letter to the Manager, Birla Sunlife, Maharashtra for the post of a Clerk.
Geeta colony, 15/8,
Madhuban Flats,
Pune.
15 November, 2008.
Sir,
Sub: Application for the post of a Clerk.
I came to know that there is a vacancy for the post of a clerk in your corporate office at
Pune. I am submitting my application for the same.
I am a commerce graduate with typewriting higher and short-hand lower in English. I have learnt
MS Windows 98 also.
I have two years of experience as an accountant. After my marriage, I couldnt take up any job
owing to my family commitments. As my child has begun going to school, I would like to take up
a job near my house.
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I would render sincere service, if I am offered an opportunity.
Thank you,
Yours faithfully,
Harini.
Enclosures:
1. Copy of degree certificate.
2. Copy of typewriting, short-hand and computer certificates.
3. Experience certificate.
Ex.-5. Write an application to Aplab Industries for the post of trainee at the end of the third
year of your course.
Smarika Khare
III Year
Amity International,
Noida
09, May, 2008.
It is evident that television has both positive and negative impact on children. The world as TV
represents it is not always true to reality but children who grow up with such representations tend
to believe and know the world as picturised on TV.
This is mainly due to the reason that children specific programmes are hardly telecast by
Doordarshan. Thus, children are left with no alternative but to watch whatever is offered. Parents
have to decide the kinds of controls they will exercise to limit the time and content of their
childrens television viewing.
VOLUNTARY EUTHANASIA
Euthanasia means an action which aims at taking the life of another at the latters expressed
request. It concerns an action of which death is the purpose and the result. This definition
applies only to voluntary euthanasia and excludes the non-voluntary or involuntary euthanasia,
the killing of a patient without the patients knowledge or consent. Some call this life-terminating
treatment.
Euthanasia can be either active or passive. Passive euthanasia allows one to die by withholding
or withdrawing life supporting means. This is a tricky area because ordinary and extraordinary
means of supporting life come into the picture. Ordinary means such as nutrition and hydration
are never to be withheld since they are ones basic right in order to survive. However, one is not
obliged to use extraordinary or disproportionate means to sustain life. Due to complexity, each
situation needs to be looked at individually when discussing extraordinary means. However, as a
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rule, one can discontinue medical procedures that are burdensome, dangerous, extraordinary,
or disproportionate to the expected outcome. One cannot intend death by withdrawing or
withholding treatment, but should, however, obey God and let one die a natural death. To withdraw
a treatment as a condition worsens is letting one die and not a direct killing. In this case, it is the
disease that is killing and not the one who withdraws the treatment.
Active euthanasia or mercy killing pertains to the Dr. Kevorkians of the day. This is the
direct intentional killing of a patient with either their consent (voluntary), without their consent
when impossible (non-voluntary), or without consent but not sought (involuntary). Advocates of
this murder have covered their ears to the command of the Lord: Thou shall not kill! The goal is to
eliminate or relieve suffering by an evil means of death. Many patients are in immense suffering
and may be led to choose death as the answer by these doctors, friends or relatives. The
culpability for the patient, in these cases may be lessened, but, this act of killing can never be
justified.
These patients, whether having an incurable disease, being elderly, or suffering in other ways,
are crying out for help and love. Palliative care, not death, is the answer. Medical personnel,
friends and family must reach out and comfort the afflicted. Suffering and pain is manageable,
especially today, with so many medicines and treatments available. Pain killers can be prescribed
as long as there is no danger or intention of death. Consciousness of the patient is strongly
encouraged, so that if dying, one may prepare to accept to meet God.
We cannot do whatever to our bodies, since they are not our own. God made us and knows
what we need here on earth, so that we, someday, may enter into eternity. If Christ endured
immense suffering, then why do we expect any less? We are called to be imitations of Christ and
to share in His Passion. Is my life really mine? If we live, we are responsible to the Lord, and
when we die we are responsible to the Lord. Both in life and death we belong to the Lord. God
has a plan and each human person having an eternal destiny has a dignity. God, being the author
of life, alone has the right to create and destroy life. No human person has this right to take
innocent human life, no matter how one tries to justify it. Thou shall not killis still a command
and not a suggestion, as many seem to believe.
There are many reasons why Euthanasia is gravely immoral some of which have already
been discussed. Suffering has many benefits, especially suffering in the last days of ones life. In
addition to sharing in Christs Passion, one may find peace in God, reconciliation with family and
friends and acceptance of death. One also may be undergoing temporal punishment here on
earth through suffering; a sort of purgatory on earth. There are many benefits and advantages to
suffering. However in a pragmatic society as ours, we tend to look past the positives and see only
the negative side. This type of reasoning has led many to see death as the answer suffering,
regardless of the consequences.
Euthanasia whether active or passive is immoral and contrary to Gods law Within passive
euthanasia, what is considered extraordinary means of sustaining life may not always be clear,
but ordinary means such as hydration and nutrition must be provided. We must look past the
suffering in this world and look towards eternal home with God. As humans we cannot always
see the answers and for that reason, is not we to decide about the death of a human being, God
has not given us ~ authority. We must also ask ourselves concerning euthanasia; where will it
end: we allow the elderly or incurable to be assisted in suicide, what other groups will give this
right. Will the handicapped or mentally retarded be next? Will teenage who are the leading age
group of suicide; also have this right to die?
The answer rests in our hands. If we continue to disrespect human life and its creator, God,
then will destroy ourselves. A right is a moral claim and since we do not have a claim on death
which itself has a claim on us, we cannot act for the right we dont have. Perilt Mother Teresa was
right when she said that if a mother can kill her own child, is there anyone to stop you and me
from killing each other? There is no way to stop culture of death, unless, we get back to Gods
law and speak out, boldly, against horrors and injustices of the day!
We must be wary of those who are too willing to end the lives of the elderly and the ill. If we
ever decide that a poor quality of life justifies ending that life has taken a step down a slippery
slope that places all of us in danger. There is difference between allowing nature to take its
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course and actively assisting. The call for euthanasia surfaces in our society periodically, as it is
doing now the guise of death with dignity or assisted suicide.
RACISM IS IN YOUR FACE, NOT UNDER YOUR SKIN
Racism is defined as being the belief that race accounts for differences in human character
or ability and that a particular race is superior to others. Racism is one of the worlds major
issues today. Many people are not aware of how much racism still exists in our schools workforces,
and anywhere else where social lives are occurring. It is obvious that racism is bad as it was
many decades ago but it sure has not gone away. Racism very much exists and it is about time
that people need to start thinking about the instigations and solutions to this matter. Many people
believe that it depends on if a person was brought into the world as a racist or not but that is not
the case at all. In fact, an individual cannot be born a racist but only learn to become one as they
grow from child to adulthood.
Racism is a form of discrimination. It is the intolerance of another being solely based on the
colour of their skin. One can be discriminated against due to their race, sexuality, religion, or
gender. Both psychology and sociology views proposed interesting theories to why prejudices
and discrimination exist. Intolerance has been occurring since the beginning of mankind. It could
be seen as the acts of slavery, genocides and sexism. This begs a question: Where does
humanities prejudices derive from? Sociologists do not believe prejudices are the internal state of
human beings. It is the factors outside of individuals that cause them to grow to be racially or
sexually prejudiced. The functionalist theory, conflict theory, and the symbolic interaction theory
all propose societies portrayals of discrimination pressure and manipulate individuals to deem
their social class, sexual category, race, and sexuality superior over others. Prejudice is caused
by psychological and sociological influence, where individuals are manipulated by their surroundings
to hate another solemnly based on their disparity.
Unfairness originates from ones psychological and sociological influence, where individuals
are manipulated by their surroundings to hate another solemnly based on their disparity. Individuals
will always be judged by their colour or sex. Society has formed standards for each being. Our
world will continue to practice intolerance, since the ones who are privileged benefit from this
unfairness, making them inconsiderate to those who do not. Human nature as always been
attached to discrimination, and with discrimination comes a world of inequality, difference, and
war.
Racism is not an ability that people are born with but it is based on how an individual is raised
and what they learn when they are younger. There are many solutions in the world to prevent
racism. However, this does not mean that such attempts would put an end to racism because
racism will always exist as long as we live. But what the government and institutions and rest of
the public can do is help minimize racism. It is a shame that many people feel such hate towards
a group but maybe if they try to deal with the change and personal frustrations maturely, they can
be able to get more comfortable around the minority groups. People are people and if one can be
broader minded, and does not base other individuals on their skin color and accept them for who
they are, it would be a significant step towards minimizing racism.
THE RESERVATION POLICY IN INDIA
The concept of reservation was enshrined in the Constitution to allow the so-called deprived
classes to come at par with the so-called privileged ones. The Constitution of India allows this
kind of positive discrimination in order to bring about equality of opportunity and status in the
society. The founding fathers had never intended Reservation to be a temporary phenomenon.
Reservations to the underprivileged were to be extended until they were uplifted socially and
stabilized economically. Reservations with the view of helping the deprived classes to gain a
better footing and avail equal benefits of an independent and free nation was introduced in the
system.
Yet, the various governments till now have failed to truly uplift the backward sections of the
society and failed to provide them with equal opportunities even after 60 years of independence.
Freedom and application of a reservation policy, has changed nothing. In reality, reservation has
failed at all fronts. Not only has it failed to achieve the desired aim of bringing the non-privileged
classes into mainstream, it has marginalised them all the more and deepened the caste system
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even more. Moreover, reservations is now used not as an effective means of eliminating
discrimination but as a vile instrument of increasing the vote-bank.
The 93rd amendment and the recent declaration of the government for reservation in institutions
of higher education has once again stirred the anger of the youth in general all over the country.
The moral ground in favour of reservations still holds good. What is needed is to formulate a well-
balanced policy of reservation, which opens equal doors of opportunity to all. Development of one
section of the society should not be at the cost of the other section. Development of the society
can be possible only if all the sections of the society are given equal opportunities. Opportunity
for development should be judiciously distributed among all the sections of society. Opportunity
in education, jobs and other fields of life should be equally distributed.
The present decision of the government regarding the reservation policy has angered the youth
because it triggers the development of one section of the society while pushing another into
oblivion. Moreover, as the Supreme Court has put a stay on the implementation, the controversy
has deepened. The country seems to be divided into two bi-polar thought streams one supporting
reservations and another dead against it.
If one takes a look at the issue objectively one will realize that the intention behind reservations
is not faulty at all but it is the implication and the application of it that has proved ineffective. The
way reservation has been implemented all these years has deepened and aggravated the caste
distinctions in the society, marginalised the poor and the needy and has benefitted only the
topmost layer of the so called Backward classes. The benefit of reservation has failed to trickle
down to the lowest section of the society. Moreover, it has killed the spirit of brotherhood and
healthy competition, the desire to surge forward and to work hard. Reservations based on the
narrow concept of caste is thus, fundamentally wrong and hence has proved to be a failure.
Thus, it is time to introspect, while keeping aside the greed of political mileage and think objectively
about where things have gone wrong. It seems that nobody really cares about the welfare of the
underdog but wants to gain a bit of the large chunk of political boost for the next elections.
Reservation should not be forsaken because, in fact, every one wants that society should develop
as a whole and everyone should reap the benefits of development. But reservations instead of
being caste-based to meet the political needs of our power hungry politicians, should be based
on a more acceptable criteria through which every section of the society is benefited. For instance,
it can be based on economic status or anything else that can work truly for our society and state.
We should take a lesson from the United States in this regard. It is the most market-oriented
country and has a policy of affirmative action. US universities and the government give preference
to Black and Hispanic applicants in admission as well as jobs. Yet the US economy remains
among the most competitive in the world. The trick lies in undertaking affirmative action by
providing incentives rather than quota-based restrictions.
The US has long abandoned the quota system for affirmative action. They have put in place a
point system under which candidates from among the Blacks, backward regions, immigrants,
etc., are given a few extra points in admission and appointment procedures. This leads to nominal
increase in the cost of production. The additional points only lead to nominal lowering of standards.
In contrast, the quota system can lead to a heavy lowering of standards. Similar, is the case in
South Africa where the new constitution envisages a programme of affirmative action.
We need to identify the ones who are really needy, downtrodden and under privileged. Then,
we need to provide them with proper incentives such as education, opportunities and financial
backing. After that real talent and hard-work should be awarded and accepted instead of blindly
guaranteeing anyone a secure future merely on the basis of caste even though he/she is least
deserving. Merit should be the criteria because the country needs the best of its people in order
to develop and not those who are harnessing the unmerited and undeserved benefits just because
they belong to a section of society which has been luckily marked in the Constitution as under-
developed. It is so disheartening to see a well deserving candidate with a promising future to lose
out to another less deserving candidate because he happens to be from a reserved section of the
society-fortunately or unfortunately. Why should a deserving individual suffer only because he
happens to be a part of the so-called privileged class of society-unfortunately or merely because
of the faulty policy of the state?
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Nothing much has changed since the past 60 years proving that we have misdirected our
energies in the wrong direction. We have failed utterly in bringing the under-privileged at an equal
footing with the rest of the society. Rather, many a times, it seems that the reservation policy
tries to avenge the wrong done to the non-privileged all these years. We have successfully
paralysed a section of the society permanently and blocked their upward mobility by killing their
zeal to work hard and be rewarded. Who will want to work hard if one gets an opportunity and
other incentives without burning the midnight oil? Instead of encouraging this kind of lethargy, the
policy should be formulated in such a way as to harness the real cream of every section of the
society regardless of their caste or community for the betterment of the society.
In view of the present scenario, it is needed to keep aside the narrow vote bank politics and think
truly for the betterment of the under-privileged and honestly pursue policies and programmes for
their upliftment.
KHAP PANCHAYATS: REQUIRES REORIENTATION
Khap Panchayats have been in the news for wrong reasons in the last five years after they
started annulling the marriages of young couples, saying that they are brothers and sisters
being from the same gotra.
Khap is a term for a social-political grouping and used in a geographical sense. Khap has
started during the Rig Veda period and political unit of Khap was defined as a group of 84 villages.
The sarv khap panchayat represented all the khaps. It was a political organisation, composed of
all the clans, communities, and castes in the region. Even today, states such as Uttar Pradesh,
Haryana and Rajasthan are still governed by the rules of gotras or ancestral lineage. Under this
system, the villagers in these states still swear by the gotra system of marriage and consider in-
gotra marriage a taboo. Originally, there were seven gotras - Vishvamitra, Jamadagni, Bharadvaja,
Gautama, Atri, Vasishtha, and Kashyapa - and Agasthya was later included in the list. The main
reason was to avoid in breeding and birth of children with defects it caused. Khap Panchayats
have been in the news for wrong reasons in the last five years after they started annulling the
marriages of young couples, saying that they are brothers and sisters being from the same
gotra.
Legal status of Khap Panchayats:
Under the provisions of Indian Constitution or any other statutory laws, the khap panchayats
do not enjoy any legitimacy. Khaps are traditional, area-based community groups. Their rulings
have no legal validity and bindings on the individuals. The tradition dictates that those living in
khaps are not allowed to marry in the same gotra; they are not even allowed to marry a member
in any gotra from the same village or the neighbouring villages. Considering the latest incidents,
Haryanas khap panchayats have decided to draw recommendations to make necessary
amendments (at the state-level) to the Hindu Marriage Act of 1955 so that their rulings get legal
sanction. To the khaps, the Hindu Marriage Act of 1955 is basically non-scientific.
Khap should remain:
Arguments:
The social life and moral dignity are not legal matters, they are domestic issues, which are best
resolved by elders, and khap panchayats are more effective as a means of social control.
The law is meant to protect society. How can it be superior to social norms and traditions? From
Manu smriti to the latest medical findings, it is said, children born of in-gotra marriages are
deformed or mentally weak. Therefore, the scientific tradition has to be maintained.
It has been argued that the caste honour was bigger than law and the recent court rulings are a
conspiracy to curb panchayat rule.
The Khaps have been called unconstitutional, but the preamble starts by saying-we the people-
and we are the people, who firmly believe that a colonial rule cannot be given social sanction. The
law should abide by the traditional norms and hence be amended accordingly, immediately.
The courts of law have failed to resolve the divorce cases and have negative impact on the present
family set up as the modern courts give more emphasis to rights than duties.
They are having a jury from common person, which have thorough knowledge of issue, both
parties and implication of the crime and its verdict. On the contrary,, the modern judicial system
only see the instance with the help of written and solid proofs and that also is the interpretation
of the single so called meritorious person. There is a greater possibility of manipulation by the
lawyers and vicious and frivolous arguments.
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At the same time, the matter is resolved free and speedily. In the modern law system, the justice
is delayed and therefore, it is denied.
The codified laws cannot be enough to give practical solutions to a problem and in this regard, the
verdicts delivered by the khaps are not based on written book, therefore, they are much more
practical.
It should be banned:
Arguments:
It has been accused that the khap panchayats in the absence of norms, a playing havoc with the
lives of young couples by issuing diktats at will.
The khap panchayats are biased against the females and in some Haryana villages, young girls
are routinely threatened, abused and killed under khap verdicts. The entire onus of protecting the
village honour rests on the shoulders of young girls and any violation by the girls are taken as
deep disrespect for the entire village and the community. This grossly violates the fundamental
rights of the females.
The caste and other equations of the local area tend to undermine the fairness of the verdict of the
khap panchayats. The powerful persons of the area definitely get the benefit of the traditional
system of justice.
This will create a parallel system of justice administration in India, the local traditions would be
strengthened, and common people would be delinked from the national mainstream.
The speedy trials without proper arguments create a sense of insecurity amongst the victims.
As a result of the functioning of the khap panchayat, Haryana remains completely feudal and
patriarchal in terms of attitudes to labour marriage, inheritance, caste and gender relations and
has one of the lowest sex ratio in India.
The influence of the khaps can be assessed from the fact that almost all the political parties of
Haryana have favoured the khap system of parallel judicial system.
Criticism:
NHRC criticism:
The National Human Rights Commission has criticized the approach and the functioning of
the Khap panchayats or self-styled caste councils. The NHRC has warned them against taking
the law in their hands in the name of tradition and said the issue of banning marriages in the
same subcaste was a subject of wider debate. NHRC has received as many as eight complaints
regarding alleged interference of these councils in criminal justice system from different Khap
panchayats in Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh which are indulging in acts of violence against
Hindu couples marrying in the same subcaste or gotra.
In the ultimate analysis, the role of khaps cannot be underestimated as an institution. But
there is an urgent need to reorient their role and function in the modern perspective. The khaps
should be given proper guidelines of dos and donts by the Government. The laws formulated
after independence must be communicated to these panchayats so that they can understand to
respect the fundamental rights of the individuals in general and right to liberty in particular.
OPENING HIGHER EDUCATION TO FOREIGN INSTITUTIONS
The bill has a provision under which the government can reject an application of a university if
it feels that the venture will have an adverse impact on national security.
Provisions of the Foreign Education Institutions (Regulation of Entry and Operations) Bill, 2010:
A foreign-university aspiring to set up a campus will have to deposit Rs 50 crore as corpus fund
and cannot take back the surplus generated from education activities here.
Moreover, a foreign education provider shall, out of the income received from the corpus fund,
utilize not more than 75 per cent of it for the development of its institutions in India. The remaining
income will be deposited in the corpus fund.
The Bill states that a foreign institution shall not impart education in India unless it is recognized
and notified by the central government as a foreign education provider under the proposed legislation
and offers education in conformity with the standards laid down by the statutory authority, and of
comparable quality.
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It prescribes a time-bound format to grant approval to foreign educational institutions to set up
campuses in India. They would be registered with UGC or any other regulatory body, which will
scrutinize proposals of aspiring institutions as per Indias priorities and advice the government
whether to allow the institute to operate in the country.
The bill has a provision under which the government can reject an application of a university if it
feels that the venture will have an adverse impact on national security.
The central govemment may refuse to recognize and notify a foreign educational institution as
foreign education provider if it is not in the interest of sovereignty, integrity of India, and the
security of the state, friendly relations with foreign states, public order, decency or morality or
sensitivity of location of the foreign educational institutions.
Positive Impact:
The foreign education providers Bill was about collaboration and joint ventures of different kinds
with foreign universities and not just about setting up campuses.
The proposed Bill has many clauses to check its potential misuse. The bill is part of the
governments continued focus on education reform.
It is expected to facilitate quality education in India itself and reduce the flow of Indian students
abroad. Thousands of Indian students annually go to the US, Britain and Australia among other
countries to study in foreign universities.
The enactment of a legislation regulating entry and operation of all the foreign educational institutions
is necessary to maintain the standards of higher education within the country as well as to
protect the interest of the students and in public interest.
A number of foreign educational institutions had been operating in the country and some of them
may be resorting to various malpractices to allure and attract students, and there is no
comprehensive and effective policy for regulation on the operations of all the foreign educational
institutions in the country.
Due to lack of policy or regulatory regime, it has been very difficult to make meaningful assessment
of the operations of the foreign educational institutions and absence of such meaningful
assessment has given rise to chances of adoption of various unfair practices besides
commercialisation.
It will ensure better atmosphere for competition and enhance the level of higher education in
India. Among the foreign universities likely to set up shop in India are Boston University, Harvard
and Yale University from the US.
Educational Tribunals Bill, 2010
The Educational Tribunals Bill, 2010 provides for the establishment of the State Educational
Tribunals and the National Education Tribunal.
Provisions:
The formal tribunals would exercise power and authority on service matters of any teacher or any
other employee of a higher educational institution, on matters relating to affiliation of any higher
educational institution (not being a University) with the affiliating University, on matters relating to
unfair practices by any higher educational institution and matters that might be assigned to it by
any other law for the time being in force.
The National Education Tribunal would exercise power and authority over any dispute between a
higher educational institution and any appropriate statutory regulatory body and all other matters
pertaining to higher education.
The chairperson or members of a State Educational Tribunal and the National Educational Tribunal
ineligible for a period of five years from the date they cease to hold office for further employment
in any higher educational institution.
It also provides for imprisonment for a term, which might extend to three years or with fine, which
might extend to Rs 10 lakh or with both in case of failure to comply with any order made by any
State Educational Tribunal or the National Educational Tribunal.
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National Accreditation Regulatory Authority for Higher Educational Institutions
Bill, 2010
The National Accreditation Regulatory Authority for Higher Educational Institutions Bill, 2010
postulates that every higher educational institution and every programme conducted by it should
require accreditation in the manner provided in the proposed legislation.
The authority is to promote the development and regulate the process of accreditation of higher
educational institutions and to register and regulate the working of accreditation agencies with
only registered accreditation agencies undertaking accreditation of any higher educational
institution or any programme of it.
NUCLEAR LIABILITY BILL
It is important to mention that US companies have yet to benefit from the agreement while
Russian and French rivals have been making headway in the atomic energy market estimated
by the US-India Business Council to reach 150 billion dollars over the next 30 years.
The government has introduced the contentious civil nuclear liability bill in the Lok Sabha.
The bill prescribes the liability of an operator in a nuclear accident and relief to the victims in such
mishaps. The Civil Liability fcr Nuclear Damage Bill, 2010, which provides for payment of
compensation in the event of a nuclear accident, is a pre-requisite for U.S. nuclear companies to
enter India, and an enabling condition for their French and Russian counterparts. It is important to
mention that US companies have yet to benefit from the agreement while Russian and French
rivals have been making headway in the atomic energy market estimated by the US-India Business
Council to reach 150 billion dollars over the next 30 years. The US government has been keen
that the bill be passed, as it will facilitate the entry of American vendors who would otherwise not
be able to get insurance cover for their projects in India. Currently, only the State-run Nuclear
Power Corporation of India Ltd. under the existing Atomic Energy Act can operate nuclear power
plants. The Bill, which has been under consideration for long as the Public Liability Insurance Act
of 1991 (enacted in the aftermath of the Bhopal gas tragedy in 1984), is not applicable to nuclear
incidents. The Atomic Energy Act, 1962, does not allow private parties to enter nuclear power
generation. Only government-owned entities like the Nuclear Power Corporation of India (NPCIL)
or, say, NTPC can do so.
Provisions of the Bill:
The Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Bill, 2010, provides maximum liability in respect of each
nuclear incident at a rupee equivalent of 300 million Special Drawing Rights (SDRs). The liability
of an operator for each nuclear incident has been pegged at Rs 500 crore. However, the draft bill
also has provisions that would enable the government to either increase or decrease the amount
of liability of any operator.
The operator would not be liable for any nuclear damage if the incident was caused by grave
national disaster of exceptional character, armed conflict or act of terrorism and suffered by
person on account of his own negligence.
The bill also provides for establishment of Nuclear Damage Claims Commission, which will have
one, or more claims commissioners for a specified area.
The claims commissioner shall have all powers of a civil court for the purpose of taking evidence
on oath, enforcing attendance of witnesses, compelling the discovery and production of documents
and other material objects.
The bill envisages that 10 years is long enough for a victim of nuclear accident to file a claim. But
this could be further extended to 15 years or so though it would not be easy to establish a casual
link.
HUMAN CLONING- A DANGEROUS INVENTION
Cloning is an advance technological invention for producing a genetic twin of a living thing, an
organism that starts life with the same genes as its parents. In mammals, DNA is taken from an
adult animal and then it is inserted into an egg cell from another animal. This egg then divides
into an embryo. The embryo is then transplanted into a surrogate mother and grown to term. This
process has worked in animals like cows, sheep, goats, mice, pigs, while such attempts could
not succeed in rabbits, rat, cat, dog, monkey and horse.
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In 1997, researchers at Scotlands Rosline Institute, led by embryologist lan Wilmat reported
that they had successfully cloned a sheepnamed Dolly, from the cell of an adult ewe. In 1998,
scientists at the University of Hawaii, cloned a mouse, creating not only dozens of copies, but
three generations of cloned clones. In the same year two research teams succeeded in growing
embryonic stem cells.
In November 2001, the scientists were able to clone the first human embryo. From pure
scientific analysis, it was unprecedented milestone in the field of genetic engineering technology,
but the news created a fetter among the moralists, governments. US president Mr. George W.
Bush condemned human cloning as morally wrong We should not as a society grow life to
destroy it,: said the President The use of embryos to clone is wrong .
Many US states, including California, have banned cloning and Congress is also considering
to impose such a ban. The company Advanced Cell Technology (ACT) in Worcester Massachusetts
USA, which claimed to clone the first human embryo, said, This corporation(ACT) is creating
human embryos for the sole purpose of killing them and harvesting their cells. This announcement
of ACT, provoked angry reactions across Italy and inside the Vatican. The Vatican Archbishop
said that the church opposes any form of human conception that was not born from an act of love
between husband and wife.
Scientists at ACT said that the experiments were aimed at aiding stems cells research to
treat a wide range of diseases providing hope for people with spinal injuries, heart diseases, and
other ailments, according to Dr. Robert P. Langa, one of the scientists at ACT, this latest experiment
sets the pace for human therapeutic cloning as a potentially limitless source of immune compatible
cells for tissue engineering and transplantation medicine. The company claimed that it has no
intention of transplanting embryos into a womans womb to give birth to a cloned human being.
According to scientists, the stem cells could provide replacements for various body tissues and
organs such as heart, pancreas and the nervous system. Indeed stem cells research holds out
the promise of a bonanza in tackling a wide range of diseases like Alzheimers, Parkinsons,
diabetes, leukaemia, lymphoma and other blood disorders.
When stem cell research could be so beneficial in curing various diseases in human being,
then why human cloning is being condemned. The crux of the matter is human cloning shall not
be stopped at stem cell research ; its potential for gross abuse will make it a virtual Frankenstein.
The opponents of human cloning say that an embryo at any stage of development is a human life,
worthy of protection and any kind of research that entails destroying an embryo is immoral,
unethical, no matter how worthy the intent may be. It involves using human being as means, it
turns human life into a commodity and fosters a culture of dehumanization. Another group of anti
moralists find, such making of fuss against cloning is unreasonable and illogical they ask point
blank, why do we permit abortion ? We permit in vitrofertilisation which creates nine or ten
embryos, of which all but one will be destroyed. Worse things are happening in our country where
lacs of female foetuses are destroyed by parents, eager to have a male child, with the connivance
of doctors.
The scientists have now started talking of designer babies, which make it theoretically possible
to genetically engineer our children, with added height or intelligence and removing defective
genes or disabilities such as crystic fibrosis or alcoholism.The advocates of human cloning gave
number of arguments as to how cloning could take modern society forward, it could prove a
panacea for several diseases.
Every such invention has merits and demerits. Human cloning could be misused to destroy
the existing humanity and civilisation. We have seen the proliferation of weapons of mass
destruction and the spectrum of germs and chemical warfare. Scientists, philosophers, thinkers,
philanthropists from all over the world spoke out against human cloning, prompted by fears that
the world has taken a step further towards nightmare of humans replicated in the lab. The human
cloning can tear the society to pieces, it can endanger the very existence of human being in this
world.
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BANKING
INTERNET BANKING- MERITS AND DEMERITS
What is Internet Banking
Internet Banking refers to the banking services provided by the banks over the internet. Some
of these services include paying of bills, funds transfer, viewing account statement, etc. Banks
also deliver their latest products and services over the internet. Internet banking is performed
through a computer system or similar devices that can connect to the banking site via the
internet. Nowadays, you can also use internet banking on your mobile phones using a Wi-Fi or
3G connection. With the ease of availability of cyber cafes in the cities, internet banking has
become quite popular.
Banking is now no more limited in going and visiting the bank in person for various purposes
like depositing and withdrawing money, requesting for account statement, stop a payment, etc.
You can do all these tasks and many more using the internet banking services offered by the
banks. You can also keep a track of your account transactions and balance all the time. Now
getting passbooks updated to know the total account balance is a matter of past.
The common internet banking services offered by banks are:
Transactional activities like funds transfer, bill payment, loan applications and transactions.
Non-transactional activities like request for cheque book, stop payment, online statements,
updating your contact information.
Advantages of Internet Banking
Internet Banking has several advantages over traditional banking which makes operating a bank
account simple and convenient. Internet banking allows you to conduct various transactions
using the banks website and offers several advantages. Some of theadvantages of internet
banking are:
Internet banking account is simple to open and easy to operate.
Internet banking is quite convenient as you can easily pay your bills, can transfer funds between
accounts, etc. Now you do not have to stand in a queue to pay off your bills; also you do not have
to keep receipts of all the bills as you can now easily view your transactions.
Internet banking is available all the time, i.e. 24x7. You can perform your tasks from anywhere
and at any time; even in night when the bank is closed or on holidays. The only thing you need to
have is an internet connection.
Disadvantages of internet banking
Though there are many advantages of internet banking, but nothing comes without disadvantages
and everything has its pros and cons; same is with internet banking. It also has some disadvantages
which must be taken care of. The disadvantages of internet banking include the following:
Understanding the usage of internet banking might be difficult for a beginner at the first go.
Though there are some sites which offer a demo on how to use internet banking, but all does not
offer this facility. So, a person who is new to internet banking might face some difficulty.
You cannot have access to internet banking if you dont have an internet connection; thus without
the availability of internet access, internet banking may not be useful.
Security of transactions is a big issue. Your account information might get hacked by unauthorized
people over internet.
FINANCIAL INCLUSION
Financial inclusion is the availability of banking services at an affordable cost to disadvantaged
and low-income groups. In India the basic concept of financial inclusion is having a saving or
current account with any bank. In reality it includes loans, insurance services and much more.
The first-ever Index of Financial Inclusion to find out the extent of reach of banking services
among 100 countries, India has been ranked 50. Only 34% of Indian individuals have access to or
receive banking services. In order to increase this number the Reserve Bank of India had the
Government of India take innovative steps. One of the reasons for opening new branches of
Regional Rural Banks was to make sure that the banking service is accessible to the poor. With
the directive from RBI, the banks are now offering No Frill Accounts to low income groups.
These accounts either have a low minimum or nil balance with some restriction in transactions.
The individual bank has the authority to decide whether the account should have zero or minimum
balance. With the combined effort of financial institutions, six million new No Frill accounts were
opened in the period between March 2006-2007. Banks are now considering FI as a business
opportunity in an overall environment that facilitates growth.
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The main reason for financial exclusion is the lack of a regular or substantial income. In most
of the cases people with low income do not qualify for a loan. The proximity of the financial
service is another fact. The loss is not only the transportation cost but also the loss of daily
wages for a low income individual. Most of the excluded consumers are not aware of the banks
products, which are beneficial for them. Getting money for their financial requirements from a
local money lender is easier than getting a loan from the bank. Most of the banks need collateral
for their loans. It is very difficult for a low income individual to find collateral for a bank loan.
Moreover, banks give more importance to meeting their financial targets. So they focus on larger
accounts. It is not profitable for banks to provide small loans and make a profit.
Financial inclusion mainly focuses on the poor who do not have formal financial institutional
support and getting them out of the clutches of local money lenders. As a first step towards this,
some of our banks have now come forward with general purpose credit cards and artisan credit
cards which offer collateral-free small loans. The RBI has simplified the KYC (Know your customer)
norms for opening a No frill account. This will help the low income individual to open a No Frill
account without identity proof and address proof.
In such cases banks can take the individuals introduction from an existing customer whose
full KYC norm procedure has been completed. And the introducer must have a satisfactory
transaction with the bank for at least 6 months. This simplified procedure is available to those
who intend to keep a balance not exceeding Rs.50,000 in all accounts taken together. With this
facility we can channel the untapped, considerable amount of money from the low income group
to the formal economy. Banks are now permitted to utilize the service of NGOs, SHGs and other
civil society organizations as intermediaries in providing financial and banking services through
the use of business facilitator and business correspondent models.
Self Help Groups are playing a very important role in the process of financial inclusion. SHGs
are usually groups of women who get together and pool money from their savings and lend
money among them. Usually they are working with the support of an NGO. The SHG is given
loans against the group members guarantee. Peer pressure within the group helps in improving
recoveries. Through SHGs nearly 40 million households are linking with the banks. Micro finance
is another tool which links low income groups to the banks.
Yet, banks are fighting to fulfill the Financial Inclusion dream. The main reason is that the
products designed by the banks are not satisfying the low income families. The provision of
uncomplicated, small, affordable products will help to bring the low income families into the
formal financial sector. Banks have limitations to reach directly to the low income consumers.
Correspondents can be considered to be an excellent channel which banks can use to distribute
their product information. Educating the consumers about the financial benefits and products of
banks which are beneficial to low income groups will be a great step to tap their potential.
Banks are now using new technologies like mobile phones to reach low income consumers.
It is possible that the telephone providers themselves will start basic banking services like savings
and payments. Indian telecom consumers have few links to financial institutions. So without
much difficulty telecom providers can win the battle with banks. Banks should therefore be proactive
about transferring this technology into an opportunity.
The Indian Government has a long history of working to expand financial inclusion.
Nationalization of the major private sector banks in 1969 was a big step. In 1975 GOI established
RRBs with the same aim. It encouraged branch expansion of bank branches especially in rural
areas. The RBI guidelines to banks shows that 40% of their net bank credit should be lent to the
priority sector. This mainly consists of agriculture, small scale industries, retail trade etc. More
than 80% of our population depends directly or indirectly on agriculture. So 18% of net bank
credit should go to agriculture lending. Recent simplification of KYC norms are another milestone.
Financial inclusion is a great step to alleviate poverty in India. But to achieve this, the
government should provide a less perspective environment in which banks are free to pursue the
innovations necessary to reach low income consumers and still make a profit. Financial service
providers should learn more about the consumers and new business models to reach them.
In India Financial inclusion will be good business ground in which the majority of her people will
decide the winners and losers.
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CULTURE
DESCRIBE THE WAYS MUSIC AFFECTS YOUR LIFE
Have you considered how music affects you in your daily lives? The choices we make reflect
they way we think and feel. It shows our personality and the way we feel about life. Music makes
us laugh and lightens our mind. In many ways music is presented, from the old songs to the new,
can be utilized to give us the best compiled list that will help enjoy life a little more.
No longer do we have to buy a full CD just to get the one song we like. IPods and the internet are
allowing for a more mixed collection of the music most important to us. The many downloads on
the internet and sites strictly dedicated to giving us a huge selection of music. We can pick and
choose the songs that mean the most to us.
Music can make us happier when we are happy and uplifts our mood when we are not. A true
music lover understands the transformation that music does to us. Not all out there utilize the
calming affects of music and should launch into the life changing effects that music can do.
Inspiration, understanding and acceptance can all be pulled out of music hence we are open to
the idea that music can change us. Music can be used to increase productivity, decrease anxiety
and allow us a new outlook on life. People need to embrace this and pay more attention to the
effects of the music they listen to in their lives.
Good music can change our outlook and affect our soul. It is said that a positive outlook on
life can change the happiness you feel. Believing in the changes music can have on emotion and
behavior can lead to a more productive positive outlook on life. Music is essential and everyone
should reap the positive affects and desire it invokes.
Most tea researchers focus on the benefits of green tea to prevent cancer. Two Purdue
professors, D. James Morre, and Dorothy Morre found that NOX proteins are on the surface of
cancer cells to increase the size of cancer cells and finally cause cancer cells to divide. However,
epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) which are found in green tea can fight against NOX proteins and
sequentially inhibit the growth of cancer cells. Fortunately enough, the EGCG doesnt harm the
healthy tissue when it kills cancer cells.
In addition, green tea has good effects on curing heart disease. A number of researchers have
found that flavonoids in green tea can lower the risk of heart disease and decrease the number of
people death from heart disease, because flavonoids prohibit the oxidation of low-density lipoprotein
which causes atherosclerosis and inhibits the formation of blood clots. They recruited 1900
patients who have heart disease and divided them into three groups: non-drinker, moderate drinker
(less than 14 cups per week), and heavy drinker (14 or more cups per week). During the next 3.8
years, 313 patients died, among whom 75 percent were from heart disease. After conducting
some statistics, researchers concluded that the death rate in moderate tea drinker group was 28
percent lower than in non-drinker group, and death rate in heavy tea drinker group was 44 percent
lower than in non-drinker group.
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Furthermore, green tea can help prevent rheumatoid arthritis because tea comprises plenty
of polyphenols that have antioxidant properties, and the antioxidant activities can weaken the
severity of rheumatoid arthritis. According to a study from CWRUs School of Medicine Study,
mice which were injected with the virus of arthritis were used; such arthritis was similar to
rheumatoid arthritis in human. Eight (44 percent) out of the 18 mice that were given green tea
developed arthritis; in contrast, 17 (94 percent) out of the 18 mice that werent given green tea
developed arthritis.
In addition to preventing cancer, heart disease, and rheumatoid arthritis, green tea also has
other health benefits, such as remedying inflammation and decreasing the aging process of
brain. Green tea is also cheap beverage which everyone can afford. Researchers suggest that
people should drink tea frequently for their health and they have been trying to make some green
tea food in order to let more people gain the healthy elements from green tea.
BENEFITS OF BOOK READING HABIT
The real benefit of book reading comes not from what you read but rather from the habit of
reading. When you read a new book every week, you condition your mind to keep taking in new
knowledge. Your thinking remains fresh and sharp. Your brain is always churning on new ideas,
looking for new distinctions it can make. Every day you pour in more ideas, which your brain
must find a way to integrate into your existing knowledge base. Frequent reading fires up your
neural activity, even during the periods when you arent reading.
The attraction books offer has virtually gone down among the present generation because of
the fast increasing net surfing habits being developed among the youth. The cyber surfers do not
know what they are missing. The books have always been irreplaceable and will always remain
so. The best companion that you have in your leisure time and when you are lonely- be it while
going to bed or during travel.
Books have existed from the early years of human history and have survived the onslaught of
time. Books are facing a stiff competition from WWW (World Wide Web). Fiction and Non-fiction
tales all abound the Net. Surfing such sites offers hours of enjoyable companionship. If you have
an active imagination you can just enter the doorway to different worlds through books. Want
more information about your favourite book and having trouble finding it? Just click and join the
world of Net crusaders. That is the trend today.
Research on subjects related to your favourite books through the Net, meet the authors
online, know the history of the books of interest and give your opinions. You can join clubs that
can keep you well-informed by providing timely updates on recent and newly published books.
Studies have shown that children that are read to on a consistent basis begin to develop both
communication and thinking skills at a much younger age than children that arent read to on a
consistent basis. In addition, those skills continue to progress and develop much more rapidly in
children that are read to consistently. This progression of skills will continue as long as you
spend quality time reading with them.
The habit of book reading leads us to acquire a great deal of knowledge about the field of
personal development too. That did happen, but it also expanded the ignorance of a person.
Imagine your knowledge of any field as a circle. Within the circle lies what you know. Outside the
circle is what you dont know. The edge of the circle represents your awareness of what you dont
know. As the circle grows in size, its area increases, but so does its circumference. So the more
you learn, the more you become aware of what you have yet to learn.
Book reading is such an activity that is both fun and enlightening. It helps us in being more
knowledgeable and successful. In my opinion, book reading has immense benefits from getting
knowledge to getting success in all walks of life.
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Q.1. Write an essay on any one of the following topics.
(A) Women Entrepreneurs in India
Modern times have witnessed an array of changes in societal activities. Among them the most
significant and pertinent is woman liberation and empowerment. Modern women have traded into
almost all spheres and have proved themselves which were previously the exclusive domain of
their male counterparts. Endowed with famous female institution that helps them make the right
choices even in situations where experience and logic fail, women have innate flair for
entrepreneurship. They are natural networks and relationship builders, forging powerful bonds
and nurturing relationship with clients and employees alike. They are more inclined to seek out
mentors and develop supportive teams. Women entrepreneurs need to be landed for their increased
utilization of modern technologies increased investment, finding a niche in the export market
creating a sizable employment for others and setting the trend for other entrepreneurs in the
organized sector.
Gender equality and economic development go hand in hand. The emergence of women
entrepreneurs and their contribution be national economy is quite visible in India. They now
constitute around 10% of the total number of entrepreneurs with a rapidly increasing trend. The
growing recognition that the women have unique talents which could be harnessed for development,
and for creating employment opportunities for others who are not suited to an entrepreneurial
career, developing women as entrepreneur has become an important and integral part of national
development planning and strategies. With corporate eager to associate and work with women
owned business and a host of bands and NGOs keen to help them get going, there has rarely
been a better time for women with zeal and creativity to start their own business
Everywhere you look, there is an Indian woman in the pursuit of the entrepreneurial dream.
Women have always been involved in small, usually home-based businesses but this is different.
We are more visible, we are more ambitious and we hear more women talking about building
businesses, not just earning an income. What is driving so many women to start businesses?
What challenges do they face? What helps them succeed? Does gender enter the entrepreneurs
mind at all? These were only some of the questions we had, and out of that emerged the Womens
Web Women & Entrepreneurship in India 2012 Study. The study was conducted online between
June 1st and 20th and we received responses from 114 women entrepreneurs across the country.
Below are the results, which will be of interest to entrepreneurs, entrepreneurs-in-the-making,
mentors, advisors, funding firms and anyone with an interest in the story of women and
entrepreneurship in India.
Women entrepreneurs in India: Who, where, how big?
A significant chunk (58%) of the entrepreneurs we surveyed had started their businesses between
the ages of 20 and 30; interestingly, 25% had started up even before turning 25. It raises the
possibility of at least some women starting up businesses without first holding a job, right after
their education. As expected, most were either graduates or post-graduates.
Which cities lead in having Indias women entrepreneurs?
Bangalore leads all other cities head and shoulders in the presence of women entrepreneurs.
Kolkata is the only absentee large metro (tucked away under others), with all the others such as
Chennai, the National Capital Region (NCR), Pune, Mumbai and Hyderabad figuring in the list. As
for industry type, Professional services, IT/ITES, Apparel/accessories and Food & Beverages are
the four major sectors in which women own businesses (59% of those surveyed).
(B) Role of Banks In Our Daily Lives/ Banking and A Common Man
Banking is one of the most essential and important factor in ones life as it deals with cash and
cash transactions. Financial needs are equally important in life for enjoying a comfortable economic
status and hence banking sector plays a vital role for all of us. In order days, people were not well
aware of the banking facilities and used to stay away out of ignorance and fear. However, with the
advancement of banking industry, common man began to develop interest and started using
these facilities. He began to realise the benefits of banking as it minimized his botheration of
safety and security of his valuables and money,.
Thanking you,
Yours faithfully
Sheila Khan.
B) Write a letter to your friend telling him why you prefer the Career of a Business Executive.
Jay Prakash,
31 GT Road,
Kanpur.
3 rd March 2014.
Dear Rupesh,
It was a pleasure to receive your affectionate letter a few days ago and to know your welfare. You
have asked me what career I would like to take up after I taken the B.A. degree. In my opinion the
best career for me would be the career of a business executive. There are various reasons
executive to other careers. I am convinced that business managers have played a vital role in the
economic development and reconstruction of the country. In the past, emphasis was laid on
capital and labor, as the two factors necessary for the successful running of any industry. However,
now it is a third factor also, that of management or organization. As a business executive, I will
get an opportunity to synthesize or combine the other factors necessary for production, such as
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capital, labor, technical knowledge, etc., and thus show my resourcefulness. The post of the
manager of an industry will provide me with matchless opportunities to display my natural talents.
For the successful discharge of his duties, a business executive must be a man of great in born
gifts and general education, a man of intelligence and initiative. In addition to this, He must also
have a sound knowledge of the technical details of the business. He has to manage, and so to
take into account the market conditions relevant to it. Therefore, the career of an executive will
enable me to show my intelligence, resourcefulness and capacity for taking initiative which I am
sure would be further developed by the practical training which I will have to undergo.
As business executive, I will also have to achieve the harmonization of the technologist and the
professionals with the generalist, of the theoretician with the pragmatist, of the sociologist, and
above all, of the economist with the management itself, thought my dealing with all the factors of
productions at all levels. The post of a business executive will develop my natural abilities, for an
ideal manager must be capable of innovation, of thinking along new lines, as well as adapting the
technical knowledge and skill acquired in other countries to the circumstances and atmosphere
which he finds prevailing in his own country. He must have qualities of leadership, so that he may
inspire the workers with enthusiasm for their work, and get their co-operation and goodwill. In
short, the career would enable me to serve my motherland, and contribute my little bit to the
urgent economic problems which face the country. I am also adding that Indias crisis today is as
much moral as economic. Men of honesty and integrity needed, if the country is to surmount her
present troubles. I may humbly state that my family background and the education I have received
at home will surely enable me to work sincerely and honestly, if I become a business executive.
Yours sincerely,
Jay.
C) Write a letter to the editor of a newspaper about noise pollution in your city.
Manish Jain,
HDFC Bank,
Pune.
19 th Feb 2014.
The Editor,
The Times of India,
New Delhi-110 001.
Sub: Noise pollution in the city
Sir,
I would like to draw the kind attention of the concerned authorities towards increasing problem of
noise pollution. It is causing great damage to the health problem of the city. It leads to irritation,
loss of sleep, rest and peace. It is harmful to physical and mental health of people. Frequent loud
noise affects the working efficiency of the people. Persistent noise pollution causes a loss of
sense of hearing.
Increasing noise pollution is a big threat to the health and fitness of the people, if the noise
pollution is allowed to go unchecked it may rob the people of their hearing capacity, creasing
number of vehicles on the roads, rising growth of factories, construction work, loudspeakers used
on various occasions, rock and pop music, etc. are various factors responsible for causing noise
pollution. Noise control laws are openly violated. It is the time that the authorities should awake
against the danger of noise pollution. They should strictly enforce the noise control laws. The
noise producing factories located in the residential areas should be shifted to far-off places without
any delay. The use of loudspeaker should be stopped after specific time. Above all, public needs
to be aware and cooperative against the danger of noise pollution because without public
cooperation authorities cannot make much difference.
It is earnestly hoped that concerned authorities will take immediate and urgent necessary action
against those responsible for noise pollution to relieve the people from the harmful effects of
noise pollution.
Thanking you,
Yours faithfully,
Manish Jain.
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PRACTICE
SETS
English education and English language have done immense good to India, inspite of their
glaring drawbacks. The notions of democracy and self-government are born of English education.
Those who fought and died for mother Indias freedom were nursed in the cradle of English
thought and culture. The West has made contribution to the East. The history of Europe has fired
the hearts of our leaders. Our struggle for freedom has been inspired by the struggles for freedom
in England, America and France. If our leaders were ignorant of English and if they had not
studied this language, how could they have been inspired by these heroic struggles for freedom
in other lands? English, therefore, did us great good in the past and if properly studied will do
immense good in future.English is spoken throughout the world. For international contact our
commerce and trade, for the development of our practical ideas, for the scientific studies, English-
is indispensable English is very rich in literature, our own literature has been made richer by
this foreign language. It will really be a fatal day if we altogether forget Shakespeare, Milton,
Keats and Shaw.
Q.2. (a) Write a letter to bank manager to issue a loan to you as you are going for higher studies to
the USA and you require financial assistance from them.
OR
(b) Write a letter to your brother explaining him the importance of right to education act and
motivate him to participate in his school campaign of educating village people.
OR
(c) Write a letter to a high profile newspaper in your city explaining about the problem of street
lights during the night while explaining its bad effects and its repercussions. Request the
newspaper to publish an article related to it to bring the problem to the notice of authorities.
OR
OR
(c) Express your views on the causes of increasing number of scams in India in the past decade.
Also write the remedies for them.
Political parties are indispensable for the working of a democratic government. A political party
comprises members who hold similar views on national, political and economic problems. India is
multi religious country and there is diversity of culture among the people. Therefore, there is a
multi party democracy in India. In advanced democratic countries there are usually two parties
and there is discipline and smooth control of the leaders over the network of a political party. It is
impossible to think of democracy without political parties having their own agenda for the betterment
of the people. However, the political parties in India are not formed on any political or economic
programmes. Unfortunately they do not play constructive role for the betterment of the people.
Here political parties are formed on caste, communal and religious basis which give rise to unethical
politics in the country. Their primary interest is to promote the interest of their own communities
and regions which is definitely harmful to the integrity of the country. Their aim is to win election at
any cost and form the government. Inspite of anti defection law, defections are the order of the day.
They are in an advantageous stage when there are coalition governments in the centre as well as
in the states. They blackmail the largest party by extracting maximum benefits without sharing
responsibility. They are not bothered about the national consequences of their misdeeds. Today
most of the political parties are trying to grab power by fair or foul means. A common citizen is
taken for a ride. The granddaughter of Ex-Prime Minister is allotted a house at the cost of poor
citizens. The more leaders, the more expenditure. An Ex-Prime Minister, V.P. Singh undergoes
treatment abroad and the security of the country accompanies him. The poor children die for lack
of treatment but the leaders travel abroad for medical treatment. Politicians involved in scandals
get bailed while a common man with a charge of theft of a bi-cycle is languishing in jail. The
ministers get Five star treatment in jails while the common man is defied even the basic facilities.
One can definetly say that political parties in India have not played a healthy role for the development
of democracy. Word Count = 372
Q.2. (a) Write a letter to the Inspector of Police Station, Thane about the disappearance of your
younger brother.
OR
(b) Write a letter to your father expressing your opinions and views and corrective measure (if
required) on a current political topic.
OR
(c) Write a letter to the bank in which you have an account, but you usually face problems in
dispensing money. Request them to increase the number of ATMs in your city.
Q.3. (a) India is the largest importer of arms and ammunitions as per a recent report, replacing
China. Express your views.
OR
OR
ANSWERS TO
PRACTICE
SETS
1. PRECIS
India has always been benefitted by the English Language. The people who brought India
her independence were also nursed by English traditions. Even the idea of struggling for freedom
was derived from freedom obtained by England, America and France. If our freedom fighters had
not known this language they couldnt have attempted at Indias freedom.All international trade
and commerce is conducted in this language only. Word Count = 65
2. (a) Neha Gulati,
Flat no-34,
Konkan Apartments,
New Delhi.
20 th February,2012.
Sir,
Recently I came to know that your bank gives loan to deserving students for further studies
abroad. I would, therefore, like to place my case before you and request you to consider it
for the grant of loan as I financially need an assistance to fulfill my dreams.
I have completed my graduation from Bangalore University this year and secured second
position in the list of successful candidates. I intend to complete M.Com but my circum-
stances do not permit me to continue my studies further. Therefore, kindly sanction me a
loan for further studies and and also inform me about the terms and conditions regarding it.
I assure you that I shall abide by these terms and conditions.
Thanking you,
Yours truly,
Neha Gulati.
23 rd October 2011.
Dear Abhinay,
I hope your studies are going on perfectly fine. How were your semester exams? I am pretty
sure that you will acquire good percentage of marks in it. I heard from mother and father that
your school is organizing a campaign for educating village people. I would like to motivate
you to actively participate in it as it is a brilliant opportunity given to you to contribute your
part to this nation.
Education is the basis for development and empowerment for every nation. It plays a vital
role in understanding and participating in day to day activities of todays world. It builds
ones character and plays a significant role in transmitting ones culture, beliefs and values
to others in society. It helps in creating innovations and meeting the growing needs of every
nation. It is the key which takes a country to remarkable heights.
Therefore, I would request you to participate in the campaign and report about it back to us
soon.
31 st August, 2012.
Sir,
I am a resident of The University road from silver jublee gate , cantt and I would like to bring
to your kind notice the situation of streets in our locality drawn in darkness at night as there
are no lights to take away that dangerous darkness to provide safety to the citizen to pass
through the road.
The funny thing is that, there are streetlight poles but they havent been switched on in a
year. Due to this, it remains dark entire night providing criminals a free hand to commit
crime without any difficulty. The switched-off streets lights are like a blessing of concerned
authorities to the criminals.
I myself have been robbed under the shroud of darkness that falls on the regular basis over
the university road. Moreover the chances of road accidents have also been increased. The
concerned authorities have to take this matter seriously because it is their duty, and if they
have failed to fulfill their responsibilities, how could they expect the citizens to co-operate
with them.
We, the poor citizens just want the concerned authorities to pay heed to our request and
look into the matter as soon as possible.
Thank you,
Yours truly,
Meera Kapoor.
What is GST?
Goods and Services Tax GST is a comprehensive tax levied on manufacture, sale and
consumption of goods and services at a national level. Through a tax credit mechanism, this tax
is collected on value-added goods and services at each stage of sale or purchase in the supply
chain. The system allows the set-off of GST paid on the procurement of goods and services
against the GST which is payable on the supply of goods or services. However, the end con-
sumer bears this tax as he is the last person in the supply chain. Experts say that GST is likely
to improve tax collections and boost Indias economic development by breaking tax barriers
between States and integrating India through a uniform tax rate.
What are the benefits of GST?
Under GST, the taxation burden will be divided equitably between manufacturing and ser-
vices, through a lower tax rate by increasing the tax base and minimizing exemptions. It is
expected to help build a transparent and corruption-free tax administration. GST will be is levied
only at the destination point, and not at various points (from manufacturing to retail outlets).
Currently, a manufacturer needs to pay tax when a finished product moves out from a
factory, and it is again taxed at the retail outlet when sold.
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How will it benefit the Centre and the States ?
It is estimated that India will gain $15 billion a year by implementing the Goods and Ser-
vices Tax as it would promote exports, raise employment and boost growth. It will divide the tax
burden equitably between manufacturing and services.
What are the benefits of GST for individuals and companies?
In the GST system, both Central and State taxes will be collected at the point of sale. Both
components (the Central and State GST) will be charged on the manufacturing cost. This will
benefit individuals as prices are likely to come down. Lower prices will lead to more consumption,
thereby helping companies.
What type of GST is proposed for India?
India is planning to implement a dual GST system. Under dual GST, a Central Goods and
Services Tax (CGST) and a State Goods and Services Tax (SGST) will be levied on the taxable
value of a transaction.
All goods and services, barring a few exceptions, will be brought into the GST base. There
will be no distinction between goods and services.
Will this be an extra tax?
It will not be an additional tax. CGST will include central excise duty (Cenvat), service
tax, and additional duties of customs at the central level; and value-added tax, central sales
tax, entertainment tax, luxury tax, octroi, lottery taxes, electricity duty, state surcharges
related to supply of goods and services and purchase tax at the State level
(b) ROLE OF INSURANCE SECTOR IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Insurance serves a number of valuable economic functions that are largely distinct from
other types of financial intermediaries. In order to highlight specifically the unique attributes of
insurance, it is worth focusing on those services that are not provided by other financial services
providers, excluding for instance the contractual savings features of whole or universal life prod-
ucts. The indemnification and risk pooling properties of insurance facilitate commercial transac-
tions and the provision of credit by mitigating losses as well as the measurement and manage-
ment of non diversifiable risk more generally. Typically insurance contracts involve small periodic
payments in return for protection against uncertain, but potentially severe losses. Among other
things, this income smoothing effect helps to avoid excessive and costly bankruptcies and facili-
tates lending to businesses. Most fundamentally, the availability of insurance enables risk averse
individuals and entrepreneurs to undertake higher risk, higher return activities than they would do
in the absence of insurance, promoting higher productivity and growth. The management of risk
is a fundamental aspect of entrepreneurial activity.
Entrepreneurs manage the risk of accidental loss by weighing the costs and benefits of
each alternative. In a structured risk management process, this involves:
(1) identifying the exposures to accidental loss;
(2) evaluating alternative techniques for treating each loss exposure;
(3) choosing the best alternative; and
(4) monitoring the results to refine the choices.
Those who do not apply a structured process still make decisions about risk, although
sometimes by default rather than design. The scope of an economys insurance market affects
both the range of available alternatives and the quality of information to support decisions. For
example, a manufacturer might produce only for the local market, forgoing more lucrative oppor-
tunities in distant markets in order to avoid the risk of losing goods in shipment. Transport
insurance can mitigate this loss exposure and enable the manufacturer to expand. Similarly, to
avoid the risk of total loss from drought, a commercial farmer may keep half of his seed in
reserve. Crop insurance can protect against drought and permit all of the seed to be planted for a
smaller premium than the cost of holding half in reserve. Thus public policies that encourage
insurance operations improve the economys productivity by broadening the range of invest-
ments. Insurers also contribute specialized expertise in the identification and measurement of
risk. This expertise enables them to accept carefully specified risks at lower prices than non-
specialists. They also have an incentive to collect and analyze information about loss exposures,
since the more precisely they measure the cost of risk, the more they can expand. As a result,
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the insurance market generates price signals to the entire economy, helping to allocate re-
sources to more productive uses. Insurers also have an incentive to control losses, which is a
significant social benefit. By offering discounts for seat belts, smoke detectors, or other mea-
sures that reduce the frequency or severity of losses, they lower their eventual claims costs, in
the process saving lives and reducing injuries. On the investment side, due to the long term
nature of their liabilities, sizeable reserves, and predictable premiums, life insurance providers
can serve an important function as institutional investors providing capital to infrastructure and
other long term investments as well as professional oversight to these investments. Of course,
these benefits are fully realized only in markets where insurance providers invest a substantial
portion of their portfolios domestically. The net result of well functioning insurance markets should
be better pricing of risk, greater efficiency in the overall allocation of capital and mix of economic
activities, and higher productivity. Importantly, these unique functions of insurance should be
complementary to banking and financial sector deepening more broadly. For instance, insurance
facilitates credit transactions such as the purchase of homes and cars and business operations,
while depending in turn on well functioning payment systems and robust investment opportunities.
1. PRECIS
In todays competitive era, the person who finishes his work in less amount of time is the
winner. There are tools to do the work of many men singlehandedly. This tool and not the physical
strength of a man counts for his successful completion of the work.the machines like bullock
carts, oil press have reduced the time and enhanced the production quantity. In this similar
manner the big machines have given way to tools used by man to perform his work in old days.
It is the only method to succeed if this country has to survive. Countries like America, Europe do
not depend on nature like rains to accomplish their purpose but have developed mechanical
devices to reach ends. Though such tools require heavy investments yet to deny the use of these
devices on grounds of financial curtailments is not advisable and will hamper the success of our
nation. Word count=150
12 th November 2011.
Sir,
I request that you close the following accounts I have at your branch:
TYPE ACCOUNT = Saving Account
ACCOUNT NUMBER = Savings 2342342-234
Checking 2343433-432
I have withdrawn all the funds from all my accounts and have no outstanding checks.
Should you have any questions, I can be reached at my above address or by e-mail at
himadri@myaddress.com.
Yours truly,
Himadri Saxena.
Dear Rakesh,
I just received your letter. I am very glad to learn about your selection in the Punjab Civil
Services examination. Please accept my hearty congratulations on your selection. I thank
God that all your efforts have reaped you such a prosperous future. You must have worked
laboriously to achieve such heights and you deserve all the credit.
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Once again accept my hearty congratulations on this success and may god bestow many
more happy occassion and you succeed in your life.
Yours lovingly,
Mohit.
25 th May 2012.
Sir,
This letter is written to you with respect to the garbage. I stay in Indira Khand where there
is a huge construction site which is not being inhabited by anyone at present. But the
people around are busy throwing garbage here. This has been going on for past 5 years.
We tried to talk to the LNN.
The LNN people also helped us by writing that whoever throws garbage will have to shellout
Rs.500 , but the people here do not care and they are busy with other things. This garbage
is creating allergy and all other environmental problems for those who are staying here. We
even tried to find out to whom this land belongs, but the people here give different, different
stories. In this site, there are snakes, at night many dogs will be there, and after 7 it makes
us really afraid to come out of house.
I hereby request you to please help us and bring this issue in notice of the concerned
authorities.
Thanking you,
Yours sincerely,
Rohit Kumar
Reserve Bank of India has permitted Independent ATM Deployers (IADs) to set up and
operate white label ATMs, earn revenue through acquiring fee (no free transactions, unlike in
case of banks own ATMs, where 1st five transactions are to be free) and by offering value added
services, along with the permission to do 3rd party advertising, to help recover cost of operations.
It is expected that the banks will bring in another 45-50,000 ATMs in next 3 years but that
will still be a drop in the ocean. The cost of ATM operations still continues to be high for most of
the banks and further deployment will depend on how banks retail base increases, how financial
inclusion takes shape, how the total cost of ATM operations decreases, how the cost of currency
moves and how government and RBI, together, push for electronic transactions. The smaller and
mid size banks continue to look for joining the existing shared networks and/or outsource their
ATM deployment end to end to keep costs low, while continuing to look for their ATMs for brand-
ing or customer service perspective or to lower cost of transactions at branches .
From a customer angle, there are many reasons for an ATM to be adopted as a preferred
channel for cash withdrawal.
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Availability - To be able to withdraw/deposit cash, customers need a bank branch and branches
are not everywhere and not available all the time. Cash transactions are now getting charged by
some and the modalities of cash withdrawal/deposit at PoS/franchise are still being finalized.
Therefore, the need for the ATMs will be more important than ever. When there is a need for cash,
the availability of the ATMs at the desired place, becomes very important, as more often than not,
the need for cash, is urgent. Given a very low ATM density, the ATMs are not really available at all
the places where customers want them to be, therefore, customers may be willing to pay for an
ATM to be where they want it to be.
Convenience The ease of transaction is profound and ATM by virtue of providing a simple way
of transacting, providing relative privacy and being highly accurate and risk free (no counterfeit
notes), provides a great convenience. Branches still want a cash withdrawal slip and bearer
Cheques need someone to visit teller counters to withdraw money, where signature matching
and long queues, are still the order of the day, with limits or condition on higher cash withdrawal
amounts, not to mention charges.
Lower or no fee - With RBI making up to 5 transactions free and clarity now emerging on it, the
number of ATM transaction per card have increased slightly and the overall volume is getting
supported by growth in card issuance. Many banks are not charging their premium customers
and for other customers, they are applying the charges beyond 5 transactions, selectively.
Growth of Banking Transaction set on ATMs and Value added services Many banks and
shared networks have increased the transaction set available at ATMs (e.g. Time Deposit re-
newal) as well as are introducing value added services to ATM menu e.g. prepaid mobile top up,
bill payments, dynamic currency conversion, Interbank fund transfer in real time (IMPS) etc.,
which is driving customer to ATMs and improving overall transactions volume.
Growth of Banked Population and Debit cards The banked population though, still very low,
compared to developed countries, is growing at a very fast pace and the issuance of cards is also
increasing at a very fast pace. Its estimated that there are 280 million debit cards already issued
and growing at the rate of 38% per annum. This is helping in driving the ATM usage and bringing
down overall cost of operations as threshold transaction levels are breached at ATMs.
The point now is, can this potential be exploited better by banks or IADs, what can be the
factors for successful ATM deployment strategy, what kind of business model would be making
sense, what would be the cost and revenue drivers and finally, is white label ATM, a glittering gold
mine or a solid silver proposition!
Banks or IADs
The banks have traditionally used ATM channels for customer service. They moved on to
ATM channels as an alternate channel strategy to divert traffic from branches to ATMs to lower
cost of teller transactions, then used ATMs as a customer acquisition strategy and now are
looking to use ATM channel to win customer mindshare to have a sustainable long team advan-
tage. The Private Sector banks have deployed ATMs for all these reasons and also have started
looking at ATMs as a significant interchange income earner. The Public sector banks are possi-
bly deploying ATMs for customer service and channel migration and in the process are also
earning interchange income, which is helping them to lower, total cost of operations. The smaller
and mid sized banks, are into selective ATM deployment, with switching being outsourced to
shared networks and they are also joining shared ATM networks to expand the reach of ATMs for
their customers at a lower cost, relative to what it would have cost them, had they gone for mass
deployment on their own.
The banks are also experimenting with end to end outsourcing of their ATM networks, where
ATM deployment and managed services is outsourced end to end (assets are lease financed)
and bank pays to manages services provider a fixed or fixed plus variable cost. This avoids
capital expenditure and staff cost and gives bank flexibility to expand network as business grows.
In the bargain Bank may pick some quality issues with the network, unless deliverables are
clearly defined and recourses are built in and quantified to the extent possible with Service Level
Agreement and Relationship properly managed.
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They have also experimented with cost sharing models, where the ATM service providers,
have come up with cost and revenue sharing formula, called Brown Label ATMs. The banks
extend license to managed service providers or OEM/Managed services provider combine and
provide for cash and settlement services but keep branding with them. The managed service
providers or IADs build, own and operate the network and get transaction fee and acquiring
interchange. The sponsoring banks get some benefit in terms of lower transaction cost for Banks
on-us customers and cut of acquiring interchange for Banks off-us customers.
In some cases, banks have outsourced their existing owned ATM network to a managed
service provider, who then, operates the network with branding of bank and charges the bank per
transaction at a given rate lower than prevailing interchange for. This helps banks to lower their
cost of operations and pay on a per transaction basis and still own ATMs, from a brand perspec-
tive.
Many banks are realizing that expanding networks on their own or through partnerships with
managed services provider is not something they would look at as core business as upper limits
are capped by regulator or through shared networks members themselves. But they would still
need their customer to be serviced and that is where IADs are going to step in.
Having derived experience, existing managed services providers/IADs are shifting gears and
are looking at owning and operating the networks themselves (in the mean time, acquiring initial
scale, by getting into arrangements as described above) to maximize revenue opportunities for
themselves.
IADs are going to fill the gap in ATM demand and they would have the freedom to price the
transactions basis what market is willing to pay and they would also have the advantage of
accumulated experience, specialized work force and the economies of scale to run a White
Label ATM profitably as their core business. In this sense, going forward, banks would continue
to deploy ATMs, albeit more selectively, though, some may go for higher pace, given, they still
lack the network needed to service their customers. The IADs will be much more aggressive, as
they have the opportunity to set up a network, which has the potential to grow exponentially and
this is going to attract many a players, both existing ones and the new entities
A successful white label ATM will derive its strategy from a fast food chain or a specialty
restaurant chain business model.
USP - The ATMs will need to have a USP to not only utilize availability and convenience as the
prime factors but in the long run also have sustainable advantage over competitors network and
Banks owned network. It will need to decide on its core function - cash dispensation and balance
inquiry and on what it will have, what others wont offer or cant replicate easily in short or medium
term. In terms of peripheral proposition, a high demand, easy operation and a quick fulfillment
transaction can be integrated around core proposition. E.g. a mobile recharge or a one time bill
payment facility or education fee (school) or insurance premium or a card to card transfer can
work, not that it can not be replicated. A fast food chain offers a core product for what it is known
and also integrates a few other things, which a customer needs but which dont tax the chain too
much e.g. beverages.
Location - The second most important parameter is going to be location. It will need to be
deployed at places, where others (bank or competition) dont have a presence, where there is a
big need for ATMs and where customers live, shop and work. It has to be deployed, where high
foot falls exist, which can lead to to a number of transactions, being acquired by the ATM.
Example could be, staying away form already crowded ATM places to avoid low volumes, going
onto tier 3-5 cities, high end residential and commercial locations, SEZs, Popular cafs, petrol
pumps, motels, hospitals, tourist locations, multiplexes, shopping malls, bus station, metro
stations, etc having potential to generate transaction by virtue of great latent need being already
present or a captive footfall already guaranteed. The ease of accessing ATMs and the visibility of
the ATMs needs to be accounted for, in deciding the location strategy.
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Differentiation, Standardization and Brand Building -Then, to build a presence in the mind
of customer, the white label ATMs need to be differentiated, in terms of look and feel too and
consistency needs to be highly present, be it drive-in ATMs, through the wall ATMs, free standing
Kiosk ATMs or in some cases semi-enclosed or full function lobby ATMs.
Standardization will help in rapidly building presence and achieve economies of scale before
others can, so as to keep costs low and also erect significant entry barriers, before others can
react significantly.
A consistent approach will help build a great brand recall and pull customers, as they would
know, where to look for, if needed, if ATM is already not present, where they are. From a trust and
pull perspective, IADs will need to build on brand or work on successful brand extension, if they
already have a strong brand name.
Network Optimization - A clear review strategy, in terms of defined performance parameters,
needs to be evolved to optimally utilize the ATM network and maximize the returns. The review
strategy will help in rapid learning and will assist in re-deploying non performing ATMs or in
getting rid of them altogether, to focus, where maximum advantage is.
Quality control - The other factor would be quality control and that means highly reliable and
24X7 available ATM network just like mobile networks are. If you are there, but not available,
others will exploit and this will also have a direct revenue loss, in terms of lost transactions, not
to mention, losing on customer goodwill.
Margin or Volume - The while label ATM will need to be a high volume, average margin game
rather than high margin, average volume game, given that Indian customer is a value customer
and clearly understands the benefits of tradeoff and will be willing to go extra miles at times, if
needed. The perception that people will pay anything for convenience needs to be corrected, else
in the long run, alternative payment channels like NFC, USSD or smart client based P2P appli-
cation, with rapidly evolving infrastructure, may make a dent in the money, the ATMs will make.
An example would be travel ticket agents, who have perished, because the alternatives brought
down volumes and also reduced margins.
Fraud Control and Management - Finally, the money is involved and accuracy of transaction
and a quick resolution of any dispute relative to others, competitors or banks, are going to be the
key to build customer trust in white label ATMs as traditionally people trust banks much more
with their money than any other entity. The fraud control and management will need to be of the
highest order as the trust level initially will be lower and any bad experience can quickly snowball
and send customer back to bank owned ATMs.
Business Model - There are two business models which can evolve.
Augmenting the ATM networks, where banks find it difficult either to catch up with pace of
deployment to meet demand or find it beyond their service or acquisition area to set up ATMs but
still want their customers to have access to cash all the time and, in turn, charging banks
(acquiring interchange) rather than the customers for each cash withdrawal or balance transac-
tion and thus earning interchange apart from revenue from value added services and advertising.
Here the pricing power will depend on negotiations with banks and will also get capped by the
interchange set by banks, shared networks, VISA/Master or NPCI or even by regulator in ex-
treme cases to benefit small and medium sized banks. This is a model, which is not highly
recommended, though, it has the advantage of captive customer base, higher productivity (read
cost control, economies of scale and high availability) and banks owned networks not directly
competing, as banks may not mind their customers transacting at ATMs other than their own,
due to lower cost of transaction expected at white label ATMs.
The second model would be to charge customers a convenience fee, like Acquiring banks
or IADS abroad do (this is still fuzzy, given Regulation clarity from RBI on charging customers
directly), in addition to interchange earned from banks, for the transactions undertaken, earn
money from value added services and advertising and have some arrangement with commercial
entities e.g. retailers, who need an ATM at their premises to improve customers spends. The
advantage would be pricing power, freedom to offer desired product/service mix and opportunity
to earn, need based incremental revenue, from commercial entities. The cons will be that pricing
power may get determined by customer acceptance of ATMs and price they are willing to pay,
market dynamics and clear demonstration of used cases to sell ATMs to commercial entities,
beforehand, in many cases.
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Revenue and Cost Drivers The white label ATMs will be able to earn from bank transac-
tions (cash withdrawal, balance inquiry, fund transfer) fee, Value added services like mobile top
up, one time bill payment etc, Display advertising opportunity at ATMs, interactive advertising
and lead generation (if permitted) at ATMs, rental or percentage commission from commercial
establishments like retailers where they have placed ATM on demand and by offering some
unique services like coupon dispensation etc. The opportunity sizing will depend on the facilities
offered at ATMs and that will depend on business strategy of going with the in demand transac-
tion set or a researched bouquet of services offered.
The cost drivers can be; one time cost of switching infrastructure, ATM hardware - core and
peripheral devices, air conditioning if needed, civil and legal work and set up cost. The variable
cost will be technology and maintenance cost ATM and peripheral devices, connectivity, power,
air-conditioning if needed, NOC operations etc, managed services/operations cost Network
monitoring and management, First level maintenance, Cash operations, consumables etc, Fa-
cilities management cost if applicable security, housekeeping etc.
The revenue drivers will determine the top line and the cost drivers will determine how
competitively and profitably the business can be run.
In my view, white Label ATM is going to be a capital intensive business, at least initially, but
once deployment model is perfected, the need for capital investment will come down to some
extent, as cash flows generated by the network will start coming in from day one only, given cost
control and quality control will be watertight. The business, if managed well, has the potential to
become a cash cow in years to come and then the time will tell, given demand sustains, how
good an opportunity waiting-in- the-wings, the white label ATM business, was.
Having written all, what is written above, how good a strategy is, how market dynamics
functions, how competitive and regulatory environment evolve, how good the placement, position-
ing and marketing is and how well the business is managed, will determine, if the white label ATM
business turns out to be A glittering gold mine or a solid silver proposition.
1. PRECIS
India is a country of vast diversity and therefore political parties form the backbone of democracy.
There exists a multi party democracy in India. These parties are not formed on the basis of
economic or political programmes but on caste and communal basis. Thereby, they do not work
for the betterment of the nation but to fulfill their personal goals. Anti-defection laws no more form
a part of our political structure. Mostly foul means are adopted just to win the elections and later
politician derive immense benefits in forms of scandals and corruption. It could easily be said that
political parties have not played a constructive role in development of the country.
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25 th May 2012.
Sir,
This is to inform you that my brother has been missing since yesterday afternoon. He went
to his college as usual and after that he was supposed to come back home and head
towards his coaching classes.
But he did not come home so we assumed that he might have gone straight for his classes.
We were alarmed when he did not return home even after 8o clock in the evening. We tried
calling him and we also called all his friends but to no avail.
I would request you to please look into the matter and find him as soon as possible as my
parents are too worried for him.
Thanking you,
Sincerely yours,
Meenal Mishra.
Dear Father,
I hope this letter finds you in proper health and happiness. I have been missing my home
lately and is trying to arrange for leave of few days to come and visit you and mother.
Meanwhile I would like to discuss the current trend of hike in oil prices. Nowadays, the fuel
hike has become a very common thing if you are aware of last one years progreesion in
prices. Our Indian government has increased the price 5 times which has really become a
burden to middle-class families. But it is not only the government who is the culprit, we as
citizens of this country should be responsible to handle it by lessening the usage of vehicles
when not required. India is not rich in oil production. We are the primary reason for the petrol
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hike. Because year by year number of vehicles are increasing gradually. Some of the measures
we could adopt to control this hike are
Use private vehicle like bus, train.
Use renewable source of energy like cng.
Turn the engine off at the red light.
Do research so that we also become the petrol rich country.
Automobile engineer manufactures the vehicle that is high on average.
So as we know that team work always gives a positive result, we should follow and pull on
our further life instead of blaming somebody.
Hope you agree with me. I would meet you soon and well further discuss it. Pass on my
reagrdsto mother and sister.
Your loving son,
Manish Arora.
7 th January, 2012.
IDBI Bank,
Koregaon park,
Pune.
Sir,
This letter is being addressed to you in concern to the issue of dispensing money from your
bank ATMs in various areas in the city. I would like to bring to your kind notice that I as a
customer of your esteemed bank is satisfied and pleased with the services that your bank
provides to me. But I face troubles at times while dispensing cash from the ATMs of your
bank as there is a shortage of machines.
The ATMs of your bank are located widespread and usually people find difficulty in locating
one in closer proximity.
I would, thereby, like to request you to please look into the matter and increase the number
of ATMs in our city to avoid such troubles in future.
Thanking you,
Yours sincerely,
Sheila Gaur.
1. PRECIS
Andaman and Nicobar islands have a very long coastline due to which the area is rich in
marine life but for underutilization such species is in danger of being lost. Now the coastline is
assisting poachers in hunting down the varieties of fish available. Experts say that nearly 24
varieties exist but the costal guards do not possess essential equipments to catch the poachers.
Tuna fish belt around the Great Nicobar is one of the richest belts in the world. Sharks, also
known as rough fish, and are harmful to human life, are also found here and they serve a great
commercial value as oil can be extracted from them. Dolphins at Port Blair serve as a source of
entertainment and they also guide the wandering ships to safe places, thereby banning its killing.
Crocodiles too are found in these areas and their eggs are found dispersed on the shores.
Word count = 151
12 th May 2012.
Dear Mona,
I hope this letter finds you in good health. How are your studies going on?
I hope you are through with your exams and is still waiting for your results. What are your
plans as far as your career is concerned? Let me suggest you few good avenues. One of
them is the banking sector. This sector at present is offering tremendous opportunities to
young generation and what with the latest advent in technology, the sector is gradually
moving towards globalization.
Indian banking industry, today is in the midst of an IT revolution. A combination of regulatory
and competitive reasons have led to increasing importance of total banking automation in the
Indian Banking Industry. In view of this, technology has changed the contours of three major
functions performed by banks, i.e., access to liquidity, transformation of assets and monitor-
ing of risks. Further, Information technology and the communication networking systems have
a crucial bearing on the efficiency of money, capital and foreign exchange markets.
I am wishing you all the best for your future endeavors and hope that my letter has served
its purpose of motivating you.
Sir,
There are numberless unmanned railway crossings in the country. But some of them are
prone to serious accidents. You must have read about the recent two tragic accidents
involving a truck and a Maruti gypsy with in a span, of one month. No doubt, in both the
cases the drivers of these vehicles were responsible. Yet the railway authorities cannot
absolve themselves from their responsibility.
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On 1st April a truck collided with Sangam express at Hapur Garh Road railway crossing. It
was 7 p.m. and driver should have been well aware of the coming of the train. He took the
risk of speeding past the train. Unfortunately the truck banged into the railway engine and
was reduced to splinters in no time. Both the truck driver and the conductor lost their lives.
Their bodies were mutilated beyond recognition.
In a similar accident, on 25th April, there was a collision involving Maruti. This time the car
struck against Nauchandi Express killing its driver. It was about 8 p.m. and the lights must
be blazing. Obviously the driver was aware of the approaching train. He committed the
similar folly of thinking that he would speed ahead of the coming train. This time Maruti was
thrown up in the air and fell with a loud bang. The driver was crushed to death in an instant.
Such accidents are very common. When contacted the Station Master told the reporter that
the responsibility for constructing motorable roads lies with the Public Works Department.
They should have consulted the railway authorities before making roads that cross the
railway lines. This did not appear to be convincing answer. However, unmanned crossings
are hazardous even for pedestrians. The govt. must take concrete steps to help check the
avoidable loss of life and material.
Thanking you,
Yours faithfully,
Ashish Mehra
23 rd April 2012
Sir,
This is to inform you that I have an account in your prestigious bank at your Malad Branch
in Mumbai.I would like to bring to your kind notice the fact that I have been a customer of
your esteemed bank for past 20 years and has always been a satisfied customer.
I would like to make a request to you to kindly provide me the facility of internet banking on
my account no- 35452434 as it has become a bit difficult for me to personally visit the
branch for every transaction due to time constraint.
Please consdider the matter and oblige.
Thanking you,
Yours sincerely,
Sandeep Bakshi.
1. PRECIS
Though US prides on being a leader in world community yet it lags behind in providing basic
needs of its younger generation. The findings of a report known a quiet crisis describes its poor
infant mortality rate, poverty ratio, child immunization which is too low also emphasizing on the
substandard care of children whose parents are working as well as single parenthood. The report
says that all these factors combined may result into educational and health problems which will
be difficult to reverse. The problem is gradually becoming acute due to unplanned parenthood or
unwanted pregnancies which in the long run result in children being taken care of by people other
than their parents as the parents when singly handling the upbringing focus on earning livelihood.
The crisis is affecting the children of age group 1-3 as the recent statistics show that more
children are now being subjected to abuse to the extent of entering them to foster care.
Word count= 159
2. (a) The Heritage Society of India,
Meerut.
The Editor,
The Statesman,
New Delhi.
Sir,
May I, through your esteemed daily, appeal to the Archeological Department of India to look
after the heritage of India represented by historical monuments in our district.
Meerut is a historical region. Historical places like Parikshat Garh, Hastinapur, Barnawa
belong to the epoch of Mahabharta. In recent excavations many relics,of Indus valley civili-
zation have been discovered in Alamgir. Sardhana & Meerut are historically important in the
context of the British rule in India. As I know, Hastinapur, Parikshat Garh, and Barnawa
conjure up in our minds he memories of the days of our ancient glory. All these places are
associated with the dynasties of Pandavas and Kauravas. There are numberless monu-
ments dating from that epoch.
Sardhna and Meerut are associated with modern British era and the first revolt against the
British rule. In Meerut itself there are historical places related to freedom struggle. Sardhana
was founded by Begum Samru. She built a grand Church there when she embraced Chris-
tianity. In Meerut itself she built a great palace in Begum Bagh named after her. Few years
back it was in dilapidated conditions. Later on it was demolished by Meerut Development
Authority for building Apartments. If happened through neglect of the Archeological depart-
ment and district authorities. If preserved, the palace of Begum Samru would, have added to
the glory of Meerut.
Similarly many ancient monuments are facing extinction. It would be better if government of
India took over these monuments and took care of them under its direct supervision.
Thanking you,
Yours truly,
for Heritage Society of India , Secretary.
Dear Mohit,
I am pleased to learn that you have fared well in your final exams. I appreciate your desire
to pass a few days with me. Two years have elapsed snice we met last at the wedding of
your sister. I have also just completed my examination schedule and am free. There is no
question of my leaving Shimla during summer for reasons obvious to you.
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I would like to take this opportunity to invite you to Shimla to pass a few days with us. My
mother would be very happy. Last year she was disappointed when you could not come
because of the accident of your father. Please do make a programme otherwise you will
miss a golden chance to enjoy the scenic beauty of nature. My father is likely to be trans-
ferred this winter to some other station.
I have made elaborate plans to visit surrounding hill resorts in your company. There are
many places around Shimla which I have myself not visited. I am much interested in visiting
these places lest I should feel sorry for later on. Shimla is really a sprawling hill station.
Unlike other hill stations in the North it is calm and quiet. Tranquility reigns all over the hill
station. The life runs at easy and quiet pace.
So I look forward to your visit. Please do not forget to bring some light woollen clothes.
With best wishes,
Yours sincerely, XYZ
Sir,
Let me assure you at the outset that we have no intention to interfere in the official policy of
promotion. Promotion is such a sensitive subject that promotion to higher posts cannot be
taken for granted. Promotions are based on merits and many other considerations that go
a long way in determining the performance of any organisation in the long run. We are
writing to you because many instances have been brought to our notice, where gender bias
is quite evident.
You dont, we feel, consider women fit for supervisory posts or in your views men are more
capable of management of the company. At every cost the promotion policy for the last five
years reflect your thinking that women are capable of only working at subordinate jobs.
Gender bias is self evident in your recent promotion list issued by your organisation. There
is hardly any name of woman in the list. Your policy goes against all norms of equality
among sexes. It is a pity that you think that women are not capable of devoting full time to
their jobs on account of their domestic obligations.
In view of the foregoing impressions, we request you to change your promotion policy and
give chance of promotion to women. They have proved their worth in every field. Why not in
your organisation?
Thanking you and looking forward to an early reply,
Yours faithfully,
for Womens Equality Forum
XYZ
President.
Economic growth has been used with other terms such as development, modernization,
westernization and industrialization. It is, in other words, a transition from a simple, low-income
economy to a modern, high- income economy. Its scope includes the process and policies by
which a nation improves the economic, political, and social well-being of its people. Though it is
often measured by rate of change of gross domestic product, it is generally understood in terms
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of increase in per capita income, and attainment of a standard of living equivalent to that of
industrialized countries.
Economic growth implies a change in the way goods and services are produced, not merely
an increase in production achieved using the old methods of production on a wider scale. It also
involves improvements in a variety of indicators such as literacy rates, life expectancy, and
poverty rates. In addition to increasing private incomes, economic growth also generates addi-
tional resources that can be used to improve social services such as healthcare, safe drinking
water etc.
However, the conflict between economic growth and sustainable development is not always
necessary. Economic growth does not always contribute to environmental degradation. In the
early stages of growth, quality of environment generally deteriorates but at higher levels of per
capita income, it improves. The link between income and pollution arises because the composi-
tion of output changes with growth in favor of newer, cleaner technologies. Thus, sustained eco-
nomic growth is the key to sustainable development.
Pollution tends to be related to population, and population growth is inversely related to
income growth. Higher average income and output levels are only good for the environment when
associated with policies that lessen demographic pressures by reducing personal risk and the
need for large families. Also, improvements in the security of employment, education and train-
ing, pension policies, social security and the employment of women are especially important in
this respect.
Trade is something which leaves an impact on both growth and environment. If trade is
distorted by subsidizing fuels that pollute, it would result in environmental pollution. On the other
hand, trade liberalization offers a particularly powerful impetus to growth and is entirely compat-
ible with sustainable development. In fact, Sustainable development encompasses growth along
dynamically efficient development patterns.
Sustainable development aims to meet human needs while preserving the environment so
that these needs can be met not only in the present, but also for future generations. The Brundtland
Commission, which coined the term sustainable development, defines it as development that
meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet
their own needs.
Sustainable development does not focus solely on environmental issues and it can be
conceptually broken into three constituent parts: environmental sustainability, economic
sustainability and sociopolitical sustainability. The United Nations 2005 World Summit Outcome
Document refers to the interdependent and mutually reinforcing pillars of sustainable develop-
ment as economic development, social development, and environmental protection. Indigenous
peoples have argued that it has a fourth pillar of cultural diversity.
Then there is a concept of economic sustainability. Agenda 21 emphasizes that broad
public participation in decision making is a fundamental prerequisite for achieving sustainable
development. Thus sustainability is a process of resolving the conflict between the various compet-
ing goals. It involves the simultaneous pursuit of economic prosperity, environmental quality and
social equity famously known as three dimensions (triple bottom line) with is the resultant vector
being technology, hence it is a continually evolving process.
A relatively new term is Green development, which is generally differentiated from sustain-
able development in that Green development prioritizes environmental sustainability over eco-
nomic and cultural considerations. There are other views that consider environmental and social
challenges as opportunities for development action. This is particularly true in the concept of
sustainable enterprise that frames these global needs as opportunities for private enterprise to
provide innovative and entrepreneurial solutions. This view is now being taught at many business
schools in the West.
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Sustainable development is said to set limits on the developing world. It is being argued,
while current first world countries polluted significantly during their development, the same coun-
tries encourage third world countries to reduce pollution, which sometimes impedes growth.
Sustainability requires that human activity only uses natures resources at a rate at which they
can be replenished naturally. Theoretically, the long-term result of environmental degradation is
the inability to sustain human life. Such degradation on a global scale could imply extinction for
humanity.
In the Indian context, infrastructure development is critical for sustainable growth. It is often
noted that poor infrastructurea lack of water and sanitation, shoddy roads, and unpredictable
energy supply- constrains foreign direct investment and overall economic potential. A key issue
is of attracting private investors willing to participate in infrastructure projects given their complex
and risky nature.
Cases of corruption and political and economic risk make investors hesitate. In such a
situation, infrastructure financing with transparency and efficiency in mind may do more for India
than would be obvious. Hence, a new approach is needed in financing infrastructure to properly
cultivate this form of social investment which yields more benefits beyond the infrastructure
project itself.
There is a need for government to re-think how infrastructures role interacts with other
areas that impact firms decisions to invest such as bureaucracy, corruption, and macroeco-
nomic stability. There arises the need to reconcile existing infrastructure financing approaches
with Indias desire for better governance and a more attractive business climate for private invest-
ment.
Given the vast infrastructure needs in India, a progressive approach is needed that levels the
playing field, deters political and policy risk, and develops more efficient, transparent market
mechanisms. If there is to be real progress toward development goals and reduced poverty, this
modernization of approaches offers a way forward.
In addition to physical infrastructure, India has a solid foundation in soft infrastructure. A
reliable banking system, functional capital markets, a well-developed legal system, and educa-
tional opportunities underpins Indias political and economic life. The appearance of many diverse
stakeholders foreign investors, governments, and domestic investors and consumers can further
catalyze the reforms needed to infuse additional private sector activity.
Individual and institutional investors alike can have new choices available in social invest-
ment. Parts of the vicious cycle of infrastructure project finance can be turned more virtuous,
supporting ends beyond simply funding the infrastructure project itself. Thus, infrastructure chal-
lenged India represents a fertile opportunity for a new approach that would attract needed finan-
cial resources for sustainable development and allow even greater participation in the global
economy.
(b) SPECIAL ECONOMIC ZONES- BOON OR BANE
Special Economic Zones (SEZs) are specifically delineated dutyfree enclaves and are
deemed to be foreign territories for the purpose of trade operations, duties and tariffs. A scheme
of setting up the SEZs in India was announced in the Export and Import (EXIM) Policy in March
2000. But the implementation of this policy and the task of setting up SEZs on a large scale has
gathered momentum only recently after the rules and regulations were clearly laid and amend-
ments wherever required, duly made.
The main objective of SEZs is to develop an integrated world-class infrastructure for ex-
ports, including carrying out of manufacture of goods and rendering of services in connection
therewith. The component of an SEZ shall include roads, airports, ports, generation, and distribu-
tion of power, telecom, hotels, hospitals, educational institutions, leisure and entertainment units,
industrial and commercial complexes, water supply, and any other facility required for the devel-
opment of the zone.
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The SEZ enclaves are meant to showcase the countrys manufacturing prowess and its fast
developing services sector-especially its world class enterprises in the area of Information
Technology (IT), Computer Software and Hardware skills. However, SEZs go beyond the concepts
of industrial concentrations as they have a mix of both industrial and human settlements.
Conceptually, they are akin to Free Trade Zones (FTZs) which also offer similar incentives and
benefits of trade and commerce within the regions.
The Special Economic Zones are considered to be a part of former Chinese Premier Deng
Xiaopings economic modernisation programme. Chinas highly successful four SEZs are located
at Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Shantou and Xiamen and are based on the four principles: (i) construction
primarily relies on attracting and utilizing foreign capital; (ii) primary economic firms are sino-
foreign joint ventures, partnerships as well as wholly foreign enterprises; (iii) products are primarily
export-oriented; and (iv) economic activities are primarily driven by market.
Encouraged by the grand success of Chinas SEZs, the Indian Government has envisaged
the SEZs to be the new mantra for the countrys export-oriented economic activity. Thus, the
Special Economic Zones Act was brought in the year 2005 with a view to providing an internationally
competitive and hassle- free environment for exports.
If we consider the benefits of setting up SEZs we will certainly say they are a boon. The
Foreign Trade Policy clearly states that SEZs are growth engines that can boost manufacturing,
increase exports and generate sizeable employment. The SEZ Policy also gives an impetus to
private sector to overcome the countrys infrastructure problems which are considered to be a
roadblock to attracting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). While foreign investors are attracted
towards Indias low-cost labour and strong domestic market, they are apprehensive about moving
their products through the countrys poor network of roads, overburdened airports and clogged
ports.
Power cuts can force business to a grinding halt or at least waste sizeable number of
working hours each month. The SEZ developers are likely to create necessary infrastructure
which would facilitate manufacturing, transportation, distribution and shipments to importing
countries.
Manufacturing in the industrial units set up within the SEZs will give a tremendous boost to
various types of industries. There will be adoption of latest technologies in all the industries
covered under the SEZs. The Foreign Direct Investment will be received in large amounts in
various sectors because of tax and tariff exemptions to be given to the SEZs under the policy.
The shortage of capital will be more than met by the FDI inflow. The big names in Private Sector
like Reliance, Tata, Infosys, and Wipro are likely to participate actively in setting up and operating
SEZs. The tremendous impetus given to exports shall make the balance of payment favourable
to India. The valuable
Foreign exchange will be earned by millions through SEZ exports, with which the country
can import modern technology, machinery in various sectors including services, transportation,
health care, heavy industries. There is a proposal to convert the Agriculture Export Zone (AEZs)
into SEZs, so that the agriculture sector can benefit from the concessions for export. The export
of agricultural products is a part of our EXIM Policy.
India is a vast country with a large population. Despite rapid economic development during
the last five years or so, there is persistent poverty and rampant unemployment. The setting up
of Special Economic Zones would result in the creation of lakhs of new jobs for skilled and
unskilled workers. The number of managerial jobs would increase tremendously. The Information
Technology Parks and Computer Software as well as Hardware Parks being created through
SEZs shall firmly establish India as an IT and ITES giant.
There are, however, several disadvantages of setting up the SEZs. In fact, the policy has
received scathing criticism from various quarters across many states. The Finance Minister has
pointed towards the revenue loss to the exchequer to the tune of rupees seventy thousand crore
through tax sops offered to the SEZ units-which will get 100 per cent tax holiday for the first five
years and 50 per cent tax break for five years more.
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The Commerce Minister, however, is of the opinion that such hypothetical calculations do
not constitute actual loss. Even if there is a revenue loss to the exchequer, it is much less,
because many units are already enjoying the benefits outside the SEZs. Moreover, the benefits
in terms of growth and increase in exports will more than compensate the revenue loss, if any.
The biggest concern about the SEZs policy relates to the acquisition of land for the purpose
of establishing the SEZs. The problem is many-fold in this regard. Most of land being acquired is
fertile agricultural land whether at Nandigram, Gurgaon, Dadri or elsewhere. The question is
whether it makes sense to take away agricultural land for setting up industries and jeopardise the
countrys food security.
Agriculture is the only sector which has not been doing well for the last many years. And
now it will lose valuable, fertile land. For the farmers whose land is being acquired, raising crops
is the only source of livelihood. Losing land would mean losing their livelihoods for ever. Adding
insult to injury is the fact that these farmers are not being offered adequate amount of compensa-
tion for their lands. Seizing the opportunity offered by the SEZ Policy, an active land mafia has
appeared.
These land-brokers are already making a huge amount of money by buying land from poor
landowners at cheap rates and selling the same to SEZ developers at much higher rates. In
conditions of poverty and dire need and against the organised land-brokers, these landowners
hardly have any bargaining power.
Then there is the problem of rehabilitation. The Central as well as the State Governments
have been talking about rehabilitation of the uprooted families whose land has been acquired, but
nothing concrete has been done in this regard. Peoples past experience in case of various
projects wherein several people were promised adequate compensation and rehabilitation pack-
ages, has not been particularly good.
Then there are environmental concerns. The SEZs which are to be hubs of manufacturing
are likely to cause huge amount of air pollution and water pollution. The experience of China in
this regard has also been very bad, where the areas around the SEZs are always covered with
thick smoke. Our own SEZs are likely to do the same. The chemicals released from the SEZs
will pollute the nearby water sources creating acute shortage of clean water. All these factors
point towards the dark side of the SEZs and these Zones can be called a bane.
SEZs have been established in many countries as testing grounds for implementation of
liberal market economy principles. They can bring about a great transformation through opening
up of the economy in the globalised world. Considering the enormous success of Chinas SEZs,
and given the fact that both India and China have a similar socio-economic set up and are evenly
matched in human and other resources, the SEZ model of development can lead to higher growth
in India too. But we need to remove the bottlenecks and address the key issues that are closely
connected with this model of development.
(c) TERRORISM: IS IT ESSENTIALLY IDEOLOGICAL
Terrorism is just a word in English, but it is a hazard for mankind. India faces the problems
of poverty, population, hunger and literacy. But spread of terrorism is the most frightening of all.
Be it in the small countries like Ireland and Israel, or in the big ones life Russia and USA,
terrorism has become the main challenge to most of the governments today.
Terrorism has been described as the use of international violence by group or individuals to
achieve political goals, by the experts in U.S.A. In simple words, it is the spread of terror. It has
to be remembered that if destruction of people is taken by the behalf of an established govern-
ment against another country, then it is known as war, not terrorism. It consists of a series of act
planned to spread pressure, panic and destruction in a population.
Terrorism is not unthinking violence. Terrorist are very specific for what they want. Terrorist
poses the greatest threats to mankind. They know no friends and recognize no rules. Although
explosions and stray shooting are terrorist acts, flight hijacking has come to be their most
preferred target of spreading terror among the masses of the countries. Previously it was as-
sumed that terrorism in India would be limited to Kashmir only. But this belief has been proved
baseless as terrorism has nearly spread all over India. There are many types of terrorist groups
depending on what their objectives are.
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Terrorism is usually of two kinds: political terrorism which creates panic on a large scale
and criminal terrorism which deals in kidnapping to take ransom. Political terrorism is much
more dangerous than criminal terrorism as they are well-trained and its become difficult for law
enforcing agencies to arrest them in time. For example- hundreds of terrorist are being trained at
the Pakistan occupied Kashmir (POK). And in Punjab, there is no doubt that the terrorist are
receiving training and weapons from Pakistan. Assam has been the most unstable state in the
last few decades. Assam remains the only state in the northeast where terrorism is a major
issue. Terrorism is also spread at national level. But the Regional terrorism is the most violent of
all. This is because the terrorist think that dying in a terrorist act is sacred and holy, so they are
willing to do anything. All the terrorist groups are made with different purposes.
Terrorism is a world-wide problem. By now, the governments throughout the world are real-
izing that terrorism is a serious threat to dealt with. They believe in the power of bombs and guns
over dialogue. Terrorist acts are well-planned. Every terrorist acts usually takes days and even
months of preparation. Terrorist are usually young, but the brain behind them are old, seasoned
politicians. Terrorists mostly recruit younger people in their group as it is easy to brainwash
them. Freedom is the right to every individual. Our freedom is taken from us when terrorism
strikes.
In the recent years, the most powerful country, the USA was shocked when Afghanistan-
based based terrorist organizations attacked on it. On September 21, 2011 a disaster took place
in the New York City when two hijacked planes were flown straight into the World Trade Centre.
6000 people were killed. The bombing of the World Trade Centre is one of the most deadly
terrorist episodes in the world. This violent act of terrorism was mastermind by Al-Qaida leader
Osama Bin Laden. After this attack, many challenges took place in front of us. Like- the old
security systems were replaced by new and more complicated (also costly) security systems in
airports. And in India, government developed many security measures like making more strict
laws (like POTA Prevention of Terrorist activity Act), cracking down on their centres and keeping
an eye from where terrorist receive money. POTA is an anti-terrorism legislation enacted by
the Parliament of India in 2002. This act replaced the Prevention of Terrorism Ordinance (POTO)
of 2001. There measures hardy had any effect. These security measures had no effect on politi-
cal terrorism but they had decreased criminal terrorism by ten percent. Due to these risks from
terrorism, the security at various places like airports, railway stations and government offices are
kept tightenen.
One of the deadliest terrorist attacks in India was the 1993 Bombay Bombings. It was a
series of thirteen bombs that took place in Mumbai. The attacks were the most destructive bomb
explosions in the history of India. It is believed that the explosions were in coordinate of Dawood
Ibrahim, the leader of a terrorist group which stood in opposition of India.
It takes months and sometimes years for the government to demolish a terrorist group. The
best example for this can be the operation Neptune Sphere. It took months of planning and
investigation for the U.S.A. to kill Osama. Finally on May 2, 2011 at night in Pakistan he was
dead shot. The plan of this operation was not shared with Pakistans government. The saddest
thing is that India not only faces terrorism from outside but also from within. In many cases, the
leader of a terrorist group was once in favour of that country. For example- Osama Bin Laden who
was once promoted by the U.S.A. against Russia later became the greatest threat to the U.S.A.
Terrorism is like a war, which is neither openly fought nor in a fair manner.
Terrorism has become a global threat and needs to be controlled from the grass root level to
the international level. It is also called that One persons terrorist, another persons freedom
fighter. This can be explained with the example of Osama Bin Laden. Terrorism cannot be
controlled by the law enforcing agencies alone. The world has to unite in order to face this
growing threat of terrorism. Let us hope that the world would be free from this hazard very soon.
Without terrorism, the world would become a better place to live in.
1. PRECIS
The two main traits that play a vital role in personality development of an individual are
heredity and environment. It has always been deabated which of the two is more important.
Earlier the emphasis was laid on the fact that heredity is of greater importance but in reality both
these factors cannot be sorted out into two exclusive categories. Modern researches show that
both these factors are responsible for individuals every reaction. As per the traditional views the
personality is a direct result of heredity. But today, instead of extreme views a middle of the path
is accepted claiming that personality comes from a combination of both theses factors. Theres is
a continuous interaction between them. The evidences also display that both these factors work
in an integrated and collective manner and if argued, the answer to the question- which is of
realtive importance out of these two?- can have infinite answers. Word count= 152
3 rd May 2012.
Sir,
Having visited Mumbai recently, it appears to me that some of the factors leading to attract-
ing tourists have been overlooked by the tourism industry. The bus service schedule needs
looking at, especially when visiting places like Mira Road, Dahisar, Bhayandar, Borivali. I
actually waited nearly 40 minutes for a bus from Borivali into Dahisar. On reading the time-
table I should have a choice of a bus every 30 minutes or a bus from the scheduled place
every 15 minutes during the day. When boarding a bus back from the bus depot in Mira
Road, it was annoying to find an extremely haphazard situation. Who looks at these sched-
ules? A week later there were no buses on two mornings as the staff were called to meet-
ings so everything drew to a halt I love Mumbai and its people, but surely on the above
points at least there could be improvements.
Thanking you,
Yours sincerely,
Santosh Kumar.
Ajay,
The famine conditions in the drought affected region of Chambal are horrifying. Though I am
on a marketing tour in this area, I can not help observing the plight of the inhabitants of the
region on account of famine conditions prevailing. Lakhs of people living in the inhospitable
ravines are facing the question of survival. They earn their living by selling wood, making
baskets and seasonal migration to places where food is easy to come by. I am shocked to
see the hamlets in remote settlements situated in a desolate valley of Shivpuri District. As
we travelled from Gwalior to Shivpuri in the company of our distributor, the poverty and
hunger scenario grew darker. Rampant unemployment, dry wells and dead cattle were a
common sight.
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Our dealer, Mr. Arjun Singh informed us that according to newspaper reports 52 starvation
deaths have already occured in this area in recent months. He gave objective account of the
level of hunger and hunger related misery of the people. The chronic poverty in the area is
aggravated by the worst famine in living memory. Crops have completely withered and other
traditional sources of livelihood have disappeared. The collection of Mahua and Tendu has
virtually come to a stand still. Emaciated children, semi-clad women and wrinkled faces of
men tell the story of miseries of the inhabitants.
Inhabitants seem to have accepted hunger as their fate while they see cattle and men dying
around them. Some residents stated stoically that they had not eaten food for days. Some
of them lived on wild berries but an over dose of these berries appears to cause stomach
ailments.
As I returned in the evening to my hotel, I felt disgusted with life. I was at a loss to under-
stand how these people were alive at all. Although Annapurna Cards have been issued to
the peope, this card entitles a person to ten kg. of grain per month for four. This quantity is
hardly adequate to sustain life of a person. It is strange that Government and political
leaders can be so callous of the conditions that can rend the heart of any common man. We
have made mockery of our democracy. Freedom from British rule seems to have lost signifi-
cance. Freedom from hunger and poverty has not been achieved even after 55 years of
independence. The hypocrisy of the politicians is very much evident. What more can I
write?
With good wishes,
Yours sincerely, XYZ
6 th June, 2012.
Sir,
I wanted to come and see you personally in regard to certain urgent repairs needed in your
flat, now occupied by me, but because of want of time, I cannot do so. There is seepage in
the walls of the drawing room, and therefore the room remains damp and unpleasant. The
flat also requires a white wash, besides painting of the doors and the windows.
There are some other minor repairs as well, which I would show you if you kindly pay us a
personal visit. You know, since my occupation of your flat, I have not requested for any
repairs at all. And I have been in the flat for the last five years. It is also in the interest of your
flat that these repairs are carried out immediately, because soon the rainy season would
set in and then things would get worse.
I hope you will see the urgency of the matter in view of the fact that in August my eldest son
is to be married. It would be really absurd to receive the guests in the damp and leaking
drawing room. I would feel obliged if the matter is given immediate attention and repairs
done at the earliest. In case you are not free, I can get the repairs done and debit the costs
towards your rent account.
Please reply immediately and let me know how you want the repairs to be done. I want
these repairs done latest by the end of this month.
Thanking you,
Yours sincerely,
Akhilesh Verma
1. PRECIS
Child labour has ever since posed a problem what with first factory starting in the 19th
century while legislative measures were adopted in 1881. India has been struggling to abolish
child labour but it is still way behind Third World. A study reveals why legislative actions consti-
tuted by Indian Constitution has not been successful in implementing its child labour and educa-
tion laws. This problem can be eradicated by various socio-economic programmes and educa-
tional uplift. Various countries are making efforts to eliminate this problem by removing children
from labour force and putting them in schools meanwhile emphasizing on importance of primary
education, protecting them from parents as well as employers. Word count= 109
The Editor
The Indian Times,
Meerut.
Sir,
Through the columns of your esteemed daily, we, the residents of Begum Bagh, wish to
draw the attention of the authorities concerned to the severe water shortage that we have
been experiencing.
Since the summer has set in, as usual we get water just for 30 minutes in the morning and
20 minutes in the evening. The amount of water barely comes to 100 litres a day. How can
one cope with the supply so miserably low in quantity?
The civic authorities often send tankers in order to provide temporary relief. But the supply
of water by tankers is so inadequate that the residents often resort to capturing tankers
forcibly. Such a situation has led to violence many a time resulting in loss of life on one
occasion. The police have to be often summoned to quell the riotous situation. There is
animosity among the residents who ironically belong to educated and elite class of the city.
The residents of the area have been clamouring for some permanent solution. Summer or
winter, the problem is always there. Though in summer it gets more acute. In view of the
above we would urge the administration to offer proper infrastructural planning to solve the
problem.
The D.M. had promised last week that five thousand litre tanks will be set up all over the
city. The tanks will be filled up at night by Municipal Corporation tanker to avoid wastage
through spillage. The idea is laudable but no action has been taken so far. Though fortnight
has passed and the summer is at its peak, there is no sign of construction of water tanks
anywhere in the city. Water shortage is acute and is likely to worsen in the coming days.
Thanking you,
Yours truly,
XYZ
4 th April 2012.
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Dear Kiran,
How are you? How are uncle and aunt? Hope this letter finds you in good shape. Recently,
I have been doing some research work on the benefits of Net Banking and would like to
share the same with you.
Firstly, online banking is environmentally friendly. Using the Internet perform all of your
banking operations, cuts down on paper waste due to checks, statements and other mail
and paperwork. Secondly, Net banking allows you to pay all of your bills automatically. With
a one-time set up, funds can be deducted from your bank account on a preset date and
used to pay all of your recurring bills, saving you several hours each month. Automatic bill
payment also allows you to save money on postage, envelopes and checks. And last but
not the least, Mobile banking is a convenient part of online banking that allows you to
access your accounts from your cell phone. By using your phones browser or by sending
a text message, you can transfer funds from one account to another while youre out and
about. Another convenient aspect of online banking is that the bank never closes. Youll
never have to worry about making it to the bank before 5 p.m. again.
I hope you find it as useful as I think it is. I am planning to visit your town soon and will let
you know the exact dates so that we could meet up sometime.
21 st February, 2012
Yours sincerely,
Mary Phillipe
Accountant
Enclosure: Invoice #223
1. PRECIS
Reservation policy in India was adopted after the independence to develop our economy and
give the deserving standard of living to its people. But the policy forgot about its impact on the
economy in the form of discrimination in the society. The policy aims at providing adequate
educational facilities to the socially and economically downtrodden by uplifting them at par with
the upper strata. But the problem lies in various economic constraints exercised and a more
equitable democratic order should be created. During colonialism India was reduced to mere
producer of raw materials and it had to import all the manufactured goods. A lot many reasons
like division of labour lead to disputes between India and other colonies. The first and the second
industrial revolution in India failed to bring about the desired changes and throughout various
phases of technological development post industrialization, India remained under-developed and
the gap kept on widening. Word count = 152
2. (a) Karan Mehta,
Flat no-34,
Ashok Nagar,
Pune.
20 th March 2012.
Mahesh Kumar,
Dange Chowk,
Pune.
Dear friend,
I hope this letter finds you in good shape. How is everything with you? How are uncle and
aunt? I am writing this letter to discuss the current initiative taken by our government to
provide banking facilities to the people in remote areas. Financial inclusion is a brilliant
campaign to deliver financial services at affordable costs to sections of disadvantaged and
low income segments of society.
The broad strategy for financial inclusion in India in recent years comprises the following elements:
(i) encouraging penetration into unbanked and backward areas and encouraging agents and
intermediaries such as NGOs, MFIs, CSOs and business correspondents ; (ii) focusing on a
decentralized strategy by using existing arrangements such as State Level Bankers Committee
(SLBC) and district consultative committee (DCC) and strengthening local institutions such as
cooperatives and RRBs; (iii) using technology for furthering financial inclusion; (iv) advising banks
to open a basic banking no frills account; (vi) emphasis on financial literacy and credit counseling;
and (vii) creating synergies between the formal and informal segments.
The objective of financial inclusion is to extend the scope of activities of the organized
financial system to include within its ambit people with low incomes. Through graduated
credit, the attempt must be to lift the poor from one level to another so that they come out
of poverty. There is a need for coordinated action between the banks, the Government and
others to facilitate access to bank accounts amongst the financially excluded.
I am also planning to visit Pune in the near future. I will let you know the dates so that you
could manage to take out some time to meet me.
The Editor
The News Times
New Delhi.
(c) 10/A,
Prem Nagar,
Bhopal.
The Editor
The Times of India,
New Delhi.
1. PRECIS
Privatization is the fast-catching idea in Indian economy to boost investment and facilitate
functioning of the organization but it should be applied suiting the need the need and type of the
industry. The term privatization is normally used in the context of existing public enterprises and
we shall now consider the scope for privatization in that context. Privatization is a complex
process and is generally understood in the context of public enterprises but private sector also
welcomes it provided the investment remains private as private sector companies and their scope
have considerably increased over the time. Privatization serves different purposes depending on
the organization it is applied to, which limits its scope. Word count=112
4 th November 2011.
Pranay Bharti,
Nizamuddin East,
Flat no 345,
New Delhi.
Dear friend,
How have you been? I have been receiving your letters for the past 2 months and I owe you
an apology on the pretext that I have not responded to any of your letters in the recent past.
I found that from your letters that you are keen to know about the Indo-Pak situation and
how far the talks between the two nations have been successful in the past. On this I myself
have been doing some research and I feel glad to share it with you.
Ties between India and Pakistan are in poor shape. Indias economy booms, yet hardly
anything is traded with next door. A mere handful of direct flights each week connect the
worlds second and sixth most populous countries; and even these planes are only half-full.
The long and disputed border still bristles with military men and hardware.
Optimists can tick off reasons to hope for progress. Since a terrorist blast a year ago in
Pune, India has suffered no big attack. India chose not to blame Pakistan last year when
unrest flared in Indian-run Kashmir. It said, too, in January that it would pull some of its
many soldiers from the territory. India has also dropped its condition that bilateral talks
could only proceed if Pakistan authorities put the alleged masterminds of the Mumbai attack
in courtwhich they are unlikely to do.
In turn, Pakistans civilian leaders acknowledge Indias growing economic and diplomatic
heft. They note how outsiders, notably America, are courting the emerging power. Pakistans
relative strength is bound to decline, so engaging now rather than waiting makes sense. It
may even help that the new White House envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan, Marc Grossman,
is a low-profile former diplomat. The United States is unlikely to repeat the clunking efforts
by his late, press-hungry predecessor, Richard Holbrooke, to tie resolution of the war in
Afghanistan to the conflict in Kashmir.
India has good reasons to seek peace. It is alarmed by the growing influence of radical
Islamists in Pakistan, and the weakening influence of liberals. Any prospect that its nuclear-
armed neighbour might lurch towards becoming a failed state would pose an enormous
threat to India. The Indian prime minister, Manmohan Singh, has a record of seeking peace.
He met his Pakistani counterpart, Yusuf Raza Gilani, at a summit in Egypt only a few
months after the Mumbai attack. Opponents called him soft for issuing a joint statement
which noted how both countries suffer from terrorism, and for airing Pakistans anxiety over
separatism in Balochistan, where India is accused of giving militants explosives, weapons
and cash.
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I hope this information provides you sufficient understanding of the present situation and I
would continue sharing my work with you in the near future too.
Your loving friend,
Pranay Bharti.
26 th August 2011.
Branch Manager,
Central Bank of India,
347, Main Road,
Kashmiri Gate,
New Delhi.
Sir,
This is to inform me that I have taken a loan from your esteemed bank last year on June 10,
2010 and have duly been submitting the EMI on it since then. Due to acute financial crisis
in our family as I am self employed and my business is going down I was unable to pay last
months EMI. I, therefore, would like to request you to plesae grant me some more time to
arrange for the same My earnest request to waive out the interest accrued thereof so that I
can get relief from the mental agony.
Kindly consider the matter of utmost importance and oblige.
Thanking you,
Yours sincerely,
Shekhar Malhotra.
The Director -
Adult Education,
Delhi.
SUB. : ORGANISATION OF ADULT LITERACY PROGRAMME
Sir,
I am a retired Reader from Hindi Department, RajastharvUniversity. Having dented my life to
material pursuits and success to a great extent I am now desirous of contributing a bit7 to
the social service. I have decided to settle in my native village Balwal, Tehsil Shripul, District
Churu. Therefore, I have planned to organize adult literacy programme in the Tehsil that will
cater to the needs of nearby villages.
In view of this Ihope you will help me in organising the programme by sending me the
guidelines for conducting the programme. The SDM has already allowed to conduct classes
from4 to 7p.m. in the Tehsil Block office. He has promised to provide all the infrastructure
needed for the purpose. I dont need any financial help in this regard. In case there is
financial assistance granted to the participants in the programme, it is for you to look into
the matter. As for me, I need only lesson plans and other guidelines. I have contacted the
Pradhans of the area and they are very much excited about the programme. They have
assured me of motivating the adult villagers to participate in the programme.
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Assuring you of my earnest dedication to the literacy programme and thanking you,
Yours truly,
Arvind Singh
3. (a) ELECTION TODAY HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH GOOD GOVERNANCE
OR
NEGLECTED BASICS OF GOOD GOVERNANCE
In law, even the President of India, a Governor, the Prime Minister or a Chief Minister can
neither arrest any person nor officially direct a police officer to arrest any one. This can be done
only by a police officer based on his own subjective judgment. The scrupulous observance of
this one simple rule would restore the rule of law in our country substantially.
IT IS said that the British ruled India with the help of just two laws, the Revenue Recovery
Act and Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code, whereas the present governments in India,
with hundreds of laws on the statute book, are unable to either recover their revenues or control
law and order! It is true that the British Governments strength was its unfaltering commitment to
the collection of revenues and enforcement of the law. It is not, however, my case that the country
should now be run the way it was run by the British or that governments should do nothing but
collect revenues and maintain law and order. But does one build a house without any mason to
lay the foundation and by concentrating only on plans for interior decoration?
In post-Independence Indian public administration, there has always been a controversy, if not a
conflict, relating to the roles of specialists and generalists. The former feel that the latter are cornering
jobs for which they are not suitable and the latter feel that the former do not have breadth of perception
and are blinkered by their narrow specialist knowledge. The IAS, especially, has been in the eye of
this storm, so to say. I have heard my colleagues in functional departments say that the IAS was fit
only for collecting revenues and maintain law and order. The implication was that, apart from being
unglamorous and pedestrian, these jobs were only for the unintelligent or the unscrupulous!
In the post-Independence era, the IAS too, presented with opportunities in the economic
development sector and with the vanishing of land revenue as an important source of revenue for
the States, began to regard tax collection and law and order jobs as not being promising enough
from the job satisfaction or career points of view. With greater politicisation of the people and the
spread of the populist cult, these activities came to be regarded as not merely non-developmental
and feudal but almost as anti-people. No wonder that, while premier civil servants distanced
themselves more and more from taking them seriously, the politicians seized the opportunity to
undermine their importance and effectiveness.
Complacent view
An oversimplified, nave and misunderstood version of development economics that public
finance has nothing in common with private finance and that for a sovereign, especially democratic,
government, expenditure and income could be independent of each other has contributed to a
dangerously complacent view of poor tax recovery. A governments sovereignty, alas, does not
extend to the laws of arithmetic! A divine faith in the seductive comfort of the Laffer Curve and the
emerging philosophy of privatisation and liberalisation have made strict enforcement of any rule
or law appear not merely rigid and bureaucratic but almost retrograde and reactionary. (At the
same time the government is accused of not enforcing the law strictly against ones competitors!)
Today, immunity from payment and prosecution and the impunity with which both can be
evaded even defied are the most coveted symbols of political importance, and the prime
goal of coming to power is to do this on a scale of ever-increasing magnitude and frequency.
Immunity from law and impunity of violation have become the modern political equivalents of the
ancient sceptre and the crown. Kaleidoscopic coalitions in which the constant goal is to stay in
power but the members keep changing almost randomly have made every politician with at least
one other member in his party a potential MLA/MP/Minister! This has made the tax collection
and law enforcing agencies diffident and unwilling to stick their necks out. Political scientists
who wax eloquent over how the emergence of the concept of coalition is a sign of the maturing of
Indian democracy have completely missed, or slurred over, its adverse impact on administration
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(which includes tax enforcement as well as law and order) and how a coalition is a convenient,
indirect and legal way of defection defecting from principles without defecting from party !
Profitable business
Evasion, both of taxes and the law, has become a highly profitable business in which both
the evaders and the enforcers share the benefits. Once the net benefits to government become
unduly low, this gives the enforcee a chance to argue that there is a case for abolishing the law
itself. It could be argued that we have far too many, as well as complicated, laws, and that this
makes both compliance and enforcement difficult leading to corruption-based evasion (or is it the
other way, or both?) Laws could be few, clear and simple, but once they are decided upon, there
has to be strict and total enforcement. Otherwise, governance will cease to exist and only rhetoric
will remain. Unfortunately, what the government is doing is: If the tax potential is 100 crores and
there is a leakage of 40 per cent, then in order to get 100 crores, it increases the total tax
coverage to 160 crores. This is welcome to the enforcers whose share goes up proportionately!
As far as the rule of law is concerned, the prime responsibility is in the hands of the police
headed by IPS officers. As far as taxes are concerned, in the States the main taxes are excise
on liquor and commercial taxes which are usually under the charge of IAS officers, and at the
Centre, the taxes are excise, customs and income tax which are in the hands of the functional
services like the IRS. It is, therefore, the main and undeniable responsibility of these services to
ensure the strict and lawful enforcement of the respective laws under their charge. It is their duty
to be internally and laterally united and to be fanatically intolerant of black sheep in their midst.
It is idle and irresponsible to pretend that it is for the politicians or Parliament to take the initiative
to clean up things and prevent or avoid political interference, and that there is nothing the services
can do in the matter till this happens.
The failure of external law and order is but a reflection of the failure of internal law and order
in government. By this, I mean the legitimate control and discipline that a superior normally is
entitled to exercise over his subordinates as well as the protection and guidance that he is bound
to give them. Direct political interference at the cutting edge aided by spinelessness on the part
of, or abetted by, superiors has virtually abolished the concept of a boss (in the good and legitimate
sense) in government. Subordinates are directly influenced by the powers that be bypassing the
superior who is either kept in the dark or ignored or bullied into acquiescence if he does not
cooperate or at least acquiesce. The subordinates are, in turn, happy to be able to oblige the
political bosses as this can be encashed whenever necessary for personal benefit. Hierarchy,
though dysfunctional in some respects, serves, especially in government, the useful purpose of
providing a buffer against direct undue influences on the lower levels. In the past, in the uniformed
services subordinates used to be more disciplined than in the general civil services and in fact
sometimes the discipline used to appear to be too rigid. Now the situation seems to be the other
way round. The superiors in the uniformed services seem to be more helpless than the general
services and more vulnerable to being let down by their subordinates.
The role of the IPS
In todays situation, the role of the IPS is what holds the key to the restoration of the rule of
law. The IAS can only give moral and administrative support to the IPS and other services and
also ensure efficiency and integrity while dealing with politicians and citizens directly (this is not
to absolve the IAS from all guilt or responsibility for the present state of affairs. They certainly
have a lot to answer and atone for in this regard). Unlike in earlier days when honest and unbending
officers were merely transferred out, today they are facing physical threats in which the police are
either directly involved (as in the case of arrests) or may be able to help promptly and effectively
(as in the case of complaints). The IAS cannot do much to help in such cases as they may
neither be involved in these matters nor do they have, like the police, the legal, legitimate power
to strike back. If only the IPS refuses to allow itself to be used as the cats-paw of politicians and
also acts as alert, active guardians of their honest service colleagues against physical political
vendetta, the whole atmosphere in administration will change dramatically from one of fear,
helplessness and cynicism to one of upright firmness. (For example, in law, even the President
of India, a Governor, the Prime Minister or a Chief Minister can neither arrest any person nor
officially direct a police officer to arrest any one. This can be done only by a police officer based
on his own subjective judgment. The scrupulous observance of this one simple rule would restore
the rule of law in our country substantially). Black sheep will still remain but can be marginalised
and contained if not eliminated instead of their being the prime movers in the game dictating to
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others as at present. Thus the IPS has a great, almost dramatic, transformational opportunity
today.
There is one more area in which initiative can be taken without dependence on the political
executive. This is at the level of some of the constitutionally protected authorities like the Chief
Justices, the Comptroller and Auditor General of India, the Chief Vigilance Commissioner and the
Chief Election Commissioner who should form an alliance for the protection of the rule of law and
state revenues by constantly having a general interaction among themselves (and not on individual
cases) on how their functioning can synergise instead of being isolated and ineffective or only
partially effective. This can certainly be done at the level of broad policy and approach without
any of these agencies having to dilute their legitimate autonomy or discretion while dealing with
individual cases. The mere formation of such an alliance would deter law-breakers and infuse
morale in honest public servants.
Every so-called developmental or democratic activity unsupported by sound finance or the
rule of law will merely be a make-believe and a mockery if not a misdeed like a flyover built at
an inflated cost at an unwanted place or an election in which the polling officer has to hand over
the booth to a mob and flee for his life. As long as finances and the rule of law are sound, safe and
stable, the country can afford experimentation on the social, political and economic fronts and
hope to bounce back even after any failure. But if the former are themselves operating in the
failure mode, the latter have no chance of success whatsoever. The world is yet to see any
bankrupt, lawless nation experience a development surge of any kind.
Definition : Democracy, by definition, is a political system in which the supreme power lies in
a body of citizens who can elect people to represent them. It can also be defined as the political
orientation of those who favor government by the people or by their elected representatives.
Demerits of Democracy
Following arguments have been given against Democracy:
(i) More emphasis on quantity than on quality:
It is not based upon the quality but on quantity. Majority party holds the reigns of government.
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Inefficient and corrupt persons get themselves elected. They have neither intelligence, nor vision,
nor strength of character to steer through the ship of the state to its destinations.
(ii) Rule of the incompetent:
Democracies are run by incompetent persons. It is government by amateurs. In it, every
citizen is allowed to take part, whereas everybody is not fit for it. Locke calls it the act of running
administration by the ignorant. He says that history records the fact that a few are intelligent.
Universal adult franchise grants right to vote to everybody.
Thus, a few manipulators who can collect votes with the greatest success get democratic
power. The result is that democracy run by the ignorant and incompetent becomes totally unfit
for intellectual progress and search for scientific truths.
(iii) Based on unnatural equality:
The concept of equality is enshrined in democracy. It is against the law of nature. Nature
has not endowed every individual with intelligence and wisdom. Mens talents differ. Some are
courageous, other are cowards. Some healthy, others not so healthy. Some are intelligent, others
are not. Critics are of opinion that it is against the law of nature to grant equal status to everybody.
(iv) Voters do not take interest in election:
Voters do not cast their vote in a spirit of duty as democracy requires them to do. Contestants
of election persuade them. Even then, it is generally found that turn out comes to 50 to 60
percent only. This forefeits the very tall claim of holding elections.
(v) Lowers the moral standard:
The only aim of the candidates becomes to win election. They often employ under-hand
practices, foul means to get elected. Character assassination is openly practised, unethical
ways are generally adopted. Muscle power and money power work hand-in-hand to ensure success
to him. Thus, morality is the first casualty in election. It is a big loss for when character is lost,
everything is lost becomes explicit in due course.
(vi) Democracy is a government of the rich:
Modern democracy is, in fact, capitalistic. It is rule of the capitalists. Electioneering is
carried out with money. The rich candidates purchase votes. Might of economic power rules over
the whole process. The net result is that we get plutocracy under the garb of democracy-democracy
in name and form, plutocracy in reality.
It cares a fig for the common man. The rich hold the media and use it for their own benefit.
Big business houses influence dailies and use these dailies for creating public opinion to their
favour. Influence of moneyed people over politics is probably clear in England, America and India.
Consequently, communists dont accept it democracy at all. According to them, Socialist
democracy is democracy in the right sense of the term because the welfare of the labour class
and farming community can be safeguarded properly only under socialist democracy.
(vii) Misuse of public funds and time:
Democracy is a huge waste of time and resources. It takes much time in the formulation of
laws. A lot of money is spent during the elections. Ministers are proving white elephants. They
are a heavy burden on public exchequer as they waste public money on their tours and recreations.
(viii) No stable government:
When no party gets absolute majority, coalition governments are formed. The coalition of
political parties with a view of sharing power is only a marriage of convenience.
Whenever there occurs clash of interests, the coalition is lost and governments crumble
down. Thus, stable governments under democracy generally dont exist. France lost the World
War II because there was no stable government in the country at that time. We, in India, have
been experiencing the same thing for the present.
(ix) Dictatorship of majority:
Democracy is criticised because it establishes dictatorship of majority. The majority is
required to safeguard the interests of minority but in actual practice it does not. Majority after
gaining success at the polls forms its ministry and conducts the affairs of the state by its own
sweet will. It ignores the minority altogether; the minority is oppressed.
(x) Bad influence of political parties :
Political parties are the basis of democracy. A political party aims at capturing power. Its
members are to safeguard the interests of the party. Sometimes, they overlook the overall interest
of the state for the sake of their party.
They try to win election by hook or by crook. Practising the immoral methods, empty
ideals, inciting hatred, spreading caste feelings, communalism has become a common practice.
It lowers the national character.
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PRACTICE SET - 10
1. PRECIS
Since British era, Indian political system is characterized by Parliamentary form of Govern-
ment. The Britishers have trained India in Parliamentarian system so when India gained Indepen-
dence it adopted the same and named it Westminister model. But now its future seems grim
which is even questioned by eminent national leaders, since fifties. Its major failures are decline
in quality of representatives and debates, criminalization of politics, deterioration of law and
order, corruption and parallel economy.
Inspite of these drawbacks this system is highly developed with glorious history and sound
basics. Our Constitution has created certain Institutions and endowed them with limited powers,
its persons who run them who misuse it. Concluding, our Constitution does not need any funda-
mental transformation; if Public Authorities doesnt have will to work under such system nothing
can substitute it. If power holders exercise self restraint, the written constitution is unnecessary
and if they dont then no written constitution can check them. Word count=155
2. (a) 36, Lawrence Road,
Lucknow
My dear mother,
I telephoned you from Lucknow at 5 a.m. to inform you that I was safe and sound. Now in
the letter I want to tell you how. I had to go through trauma of fire and death that I witnessed
with my own eyes.
At 4.00 in the morning the train suddenly came to a halt around 10 kms. ahead of delhi. We
heard heart-rending cries of the passengers. I, alongwith other passengers, rushed down
the train. It was a horrible sight to see the four compartments burning and people struggling
to come out. The passages of the four compartments were blocked by the luggage of the
unauthorised passengers travelling in the compartment without reservations. It was be-
cause of the agility of the military personnel travelling by that train that saved the rest of the
train from catching fire. Army-men pulled the chain and separated the compartments on fire
from the rest of the train.
Meanwhile the villagers, the passengers and the railway staff from Delhi began rescue
operations with lightning speed. By that time huge loss of life and material had been caused.
I went into the coach on fire and helped a number of people escape. It was in the fit of horror
that I flung the children to the crowd standing on the track. Most of the deaths were caused
because the exit of the compartments were blocked. It was difficult to believe that children,
women and the old were charred to death. Passengers were searching for their relatives by
examining each and every limb among the charred remains. The fire was so intense that the
bodies were burnt beyond recognition. Even relations were finding it difficult to identify the
bodies.
Many theories are afloat about the cause of the fire. But it is too early to say anything. One
fact is still hurting me. Many lives could have been saved. But Indian trains are without
extinguishers and emergency exits. Heat expanded the doors which got stuck. Secondly,
railway authorities do not impose the rules strictly about carrying stoves, cylinders, fuel etc.
I feel that this tragedy is just caused by mans indifference to the safety of others.
The role of army and the villagers was commendable which kept the number of casualties to
the minimum. It is estimated that 40 passengers died in the devastating fire. The dead
bodies wrapped in white sheets were horrible sight to look at.
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There are many heart-rending stories of the individual passengers that I will not be able to
forget throughout my life. The cause of fire has not been ascertained so far. But how does it
matter to those who have suffered irreparable loss in the tragedy?
With love,
Yours affectionately, Gautam
(b) Mrs. Mahima Sinha,
20/9, 5 th cross, 7th block,
Jayanagar, Bangalore.
10-Sep-2010
3 rd May, 2012.
The Editor,
The Times of India,
Butler Palace Road,
Lucknow
A joint family comprises members of the family that are related one another and share a common
ancestry, religion, and property. All the working members of the family pool together what they
earn and ha them over to the head who is usually the eldest.
The family head takes care of the entire family. Any member who brings in extra money has
equal status. Hence, the joint family puts into practice the concept: To each according to his
needs, from each accord to his abilities. The idea is socialistic in character.
The joint family system is a feature of agricultural societies. These are in existence in countries
as China and India whose economy is based on agricultural produce. Collective living, collective
fanning and collective share in family wealth are the traditional features of the joint.
The joint family preserves the tradition, customs and mariners handed down to it. Traditional
culture and skill in art and craft are safeguarded from generation to generation. There is division
of labour where the members attend to different work and contribute to the welfare of the family as
a unit.
A joint family provides an ideal setting for culture of virtues. The foundation of joint family is based
on cooperation and unselfishness and tolerance. Children are taught from young age the virtues
of patience, respect for elders, discipline, good habits. Each thing has to be shared. The conge-
nial atmosphere becomes a nursery for the cultivation of virtues.
For persons living in nuclear families there is a feeling of insecurity. This feeling of insecurity is
not there in a joint family where the unemployed, the sick, the aged and the handicapped are well
taken care of. There is a sense of social security, and old age and illness are not looked upon
with fear.
In a nuclear family, a working mother tries her best to strike a balance between service and
household chores. At the same time she tries to be a good mother and a good wife. However, the
joint system may at times prove a hindrance to individual enterprise and initiative.
The joint family has a number of advantages. However, it does not always work. When many
people of different mentality and disposition live under one common roof, negative human traits
are bound to crop up. Members then have a tendency to stress on their rights and ignore their
duties. When this kind of attitude prevails, the atmosphere is not conducive to peace and har-
mony.
With many changes in the political, social and economic spheres, the Hindu joint family ap-
pears to be outmoded for present times. Joint property goes hand in hand with the joint family.
When the joint family property is divided, the joint family gets dismembered.
Today technical skill is acquired in professional fields by training in technical institutions. It
need not be passed on from generation to generation.
Modern means of communication and the trend of urbanising rural areas have brought new
ideas and a new society has evolved which is in close touch with cities that offer all the comforts
and joys of modern life. Thus, the joint family system is lessening.
Also, the feeling of social security present in a joint family often makes the members idle and
lazy. Hard work is rarely rewarded and laziness seldom punished. Thus members lose initiative.
There is also lack of dynamism.
There could be resistance to new customs and progressive ideas of young people by the elder
generation. Old customs and traditions are enforced without finding out the views of the young.
Lack of privacy may adversely affect freedom of couples or individualism in a joint.
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There are advantages and disadvantages. Much depends on the nature of individual members. In
rural areas, nature of people is always) simple and cooperative. In the final, much depends on the
degree of adaptability of the members comprising the joint whether they are refined personalities
or otherwise whether they would cherish the blessings of a joint or whether they would prefer to
stay separate.
Sincerely yours,
Deepika.