http://www.civilserviceindia.com/subject/Essay/Contest.html The Truth vs Hype of FDI One of the most recent problems which had shaken the UPA government is decision of allowing 51% foreign direct investment (FDI) in multi brand retail sector. The government had suffered severe criticism from all sides on this decision because of the concern about the loss of livelihoods it is likely to create. Let us analyse what actually is FDI in multi brand retail and how is it likely to impact the Indian economy. Retailing means selling of goods to the end consumer for final consumption. The Indian retail sector is divided into two groups that is organised and unorganised sector. Organised retail sector includes trading activities of licensed retailers which are registered for sales tax, income tax etc. These retailers are publicity-traded supermarkets, corporate backed hypermarkets and also privately owned large retail businesses. Some examples in India include Big Bazaar, V Mart, Shoppers Stop etc. Unorganised retailing on the other hand consists of traditional retailing formats like local kirana shops, mandi, beedi/cigarette shops, fruit and vegetable vendors and alike. The share of the organised retailing sector in Indian retail setup is extremely low which is about only 10% and rest 90% of retailing is done by the unorganised sector which mostly employs family members and lack adequate storage and logistics facilities. Though the current level of opposition which led to the holding back of the FDI in retail policy tends to generate a very negative public opinion towards this but the true picture as not as dark as it is shown. There are many flaws associated with the present retailing set up of unorganised sector which leaves the consumer with very little choice and poor quality goods. From a study it is found that about 30-40% of the farmers produces gets destroyed because of lack cold storage and warehouse facility. The various riders attached by the government to the opening of multi brand retail in India is likely to take care of such problems. According to these conditions the establishing retail store must invest at least 50% of its total investment in developing back end infrastructure and facilities like modern product sourcing management, logistics, supply-chain management, cold storage,packing,transportation,sorting and processing, refrigeration etc. which will prevent post-harvest losses and will also lead to infrastructure development and employment generation in diverse sectors as according to the commerce minister around 10 million jobs will be created in three years and farmers will be able to get better prices for their products. Also the mandatory sourcing of at least 30% of their products from small and medium scale enterprises will boost small scale industries as these chains will procure the same for their foreign outlets also. Customers will be benefitted by competitive prices and variety. It will also help to control food inflation. An example can be taken from China and Thailand where similar protests took place in the beginning but after allowing FDI in multi-brand retail these countries had been actually accelerated their economic growth. In India these stores will be allowed only in the cities having a population of million plus thus only about 53 cities will be covered in initial phase. Moreover the final decision to implement the policy will be left with the state governments only allowing them to either accept it or reject it. Hence we can say that if FDI in retail is allowed it will boost the Indian economy by allowing inflow of foreign funds and investment. Also customers will get access to quality products at competitive prices. But we must also keep in mind that may lead to large scale unemployed in unorganised retail sector. These stores may monopolize the prices. Hence opening up of the FDI retail sector should take place in a gradual phased manner so that small retailers interests are also taken care of. A possible policy may provide these small retailers with cheap credits, subsidies and technical facilities to increase their efficiency and make them competitive. Government could make it mandatory for these stores to provide certain proportion of employment to rural youth. Appropriate legal frameworks can be implemented to prevent them from resorting to predatory pricing and monopolistic tendencies. Hence we can say that if FDI in retail is allowed with certain preconditions it will help boost the Indian economy in the long run and will project a positive image of India regarding its liberalisation policies. It will help growth of exports and employment generation. Therefore it must be allowed and at the same time interests of small retailers be also protected. - Vyom Bindal

Lokpal Bill fiasco Lokpal is an independent ombudsman body (Legal Representative) in India which will deal with the corruption. It was first introduced in 1968 in the Loksabha(Lower house) by Shanti Bushan.But it failed to pass in the Rajyasabha(Upper house).Eight futile attempts were made to pass the bill since the introduction. Another attempt was made by UPA II on 27th December 2011, which was passed in Loksabha but it is pending with Rajyasabha. Congress passed the bill in the Loksabha with the help of SP and BSP walking out, showing their opposition with the intention to help the government to pass the bill by reducing the required vote. Many amendments were raised by main opposition party BJP and the left but none of them succeeded in getting them passed because Congress was adamant in accepting the opposition's demands. As the bill passed in the Loksabha it was placed before the Rajyasabha where the Congress is minority which was forced to accept the amendments. Here the largest ally TMC opposed the bill and introduced the amendments. Two amendments were taken in hand by most of the opposition parties. One for autonomy of the CBI and the other for the creation of Lokayukta in states should be left with the state governments. If the Congress accepts the amendments in the Rajyasabha then the bill needs to be placed again in the Loksabha for the approval, so that the bill cannot be passed in the winter session. If the bill was put to vote in the current form then sure it would be rejected because of minority. So the Congress tried hard to appease TMC to support the bill in its current form but couldnt. So the congress tried its best to avoid voting by keeping in mind that if the bill after voting failed, then it would cause great embarrassment to the government.

In order to avert voting congress executed two tricky plans. They want to run out of time so that three days of extended session will get over. As per the plan, first they brought quota for minorities issue which leads to disruption and the session was adjourned for about 15 minutes. Next with the help of RJD MP, they scripted a most embarrassing ploy. An RJD MP directly went to the Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office V Narayanasamys place where he was proceeding with the debate with his blurred voice and pulled the paper from his hands, tore and threw it. But with a large heart Narayanaswamy continued with his speech which no one understood .For every point made by the opposition, he gave ridiculous answers. In simple words he gave poll campaign speech like "What the BJP and other parties done. No valuable or counter point in his an hour long speech which was with the intention to run out of time. Finally clock ticks for 12 am and they succeed in running out time and Rajysabha was adjourned sine die. As usual after everything there would be some blame game among government and the opposition. Here also it took place without any exception, but eventually more words were released against Congress, even from its allies. Opposition rightly called it as a murder of democracy ". Once again we, the people of India failed to get anti-corruption bill because of the inept government and the opposition. - Govind Prakash HAS ANNA'S AGITATION LOST STEAM? Annas movement is a very old one. It has a long history of about 20 years . It plays a significant role in important laws such as Right of Information, The e-governance plan etc. Its beginning can be traced from Maharashtra from where it gained a national platform in a slow ,steady and systematic manner. It has also been understood by all the enlightened class people of India. Annas active role against corruption gained huge publicity on national platform. Starting from June 2011 ,if we chronologically trace the events we find that Annas April 2011 fast was refreshed by the government crackdown at Ramlila Maidan. The Lokpal committee constituted under the chairmanship of Mr. Pranab Mukherjee could not complete the task of giving the nation a strong Lokpal. The public support which we had seen in August 2011 agitation was an unprecedented one and had successfully made the government bow before itself .So, it would be definitely incorrect to say that Annas movement has lacked public support. It should be remembered that it is backed by Kiran Bedi and Arvind Kejriwal. Besides bravery ,the selfless septuagenarian has a friendly nature towards general public .His personal positive mindset with his grave and determined nature is very important. He has won many prestigious national level awards-Padmabhushan, Padmavibhusan etc . The fast was only of three days at Azad maidan ,Mumbai due to Annas deteriorating health. Some regional reasons were responsible for less number of people at Azad maidan .Moreover, Azad maidan is in out skirts of Mumbai. Local government didnt provide support at that time. Another hurdles like chilly weather were also responsible. Local policemen ,city buses ,auto rickshaw appeared non- cooperative. Annas agitation has not yet been politicized .He openly offers to criticize and oppose the corrupt and supports the anti corruption movement. Least importance has been paid to money .Money is called means to an end and is not an end, but it seems that money has become an end. Top govt. Officials and civil servants do not feel shy in being called the ill-educated group of the nation. The August charter is a strong evidence in this regard-The citizens charter ,lower bureaucracy under Lokpal and establishment of a lokayukta in states. Annas agitation is for rampant corruption prevalent in India , electoral reforms in India. This struggle is omnipresent. The current mood of team Anna and current status of lokpal bill is a proof of this assertion. Anna is determined to bring a strong lokpal. Annas agitation not only includes the economic aspect of corruption but socio-political aspect also. Electoral reforms is the best type of socio-political reform. It has been rightly said that The test of democracy is freedom of criticism. If a countrys democracy passes this test ,it is well and good. But, in the recent past we all have noticed that Indian democracy has to still pass this test .It is surrounded by many unscrupulous political parties for their selfish and malicious intentions. They have also kept the movement alive. After the movement, common people have a different perspective of corruption. Anna has made the people understand that the pace of development in 64 years of independence could have been better. Corruption can be rooted out by two significant means building up of a high quality character and strict laws with punishments. Really, unity is strength and if all the countrymen unite against this cancer of corruption, we can cure it. Mass support by national religious leaders-Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, National reputed institutions like IITs and IIMs and y the general people can bring wonderful results. Several states like Gujarat and Bihar have taken leadership in this direction. They have implemented Annas lokpal at state level. These states have scaled great heights in progress and development .The USA report certifies it. Keeping these facts in mind ,it is the duty of elite section of Indian society to understand and spread that Annas reforms will promote overall national welfare. The favourable atmosphere created after complete

reform will stop brain drain. India will take steps for its all around development defence, research ,medicine, education to fulfil the dream of India 2020.This lesson can be learnt from China where prime importance is paid to Chinese language and with efficient approach they are presently having worlds best brains according to a recent survey of under 14 years age children. So, it becomes our prime duty to deeply understand and appreciate Annas approach to adhere towards our dream of a fully developed nation with its former glory regained. Let us keep Annas movement alive in our hearts for the noble cause and for our dream nation. - saurabh shubham

CENSORSHIP ON NETWORKING WEBSITES Networking websites-a place where all meet virtually and talk, discuss, comment about almost everything a human kind talk about. Networking websites have undergone a drastic change in terms of personality as well as soul from the times they have been introduced. Well this is wonderful as well as ironical that a mere website being given attributes as personality and soul. But this is the practical picture of networking websites in the market today. Networking websites have laid down the platform which can be used for arrival and departure of anyones train. In simpler words, we have the whole world to talk to, discuss with, question on, appreciate, change, know of and what not on these networking websites. This was the gist of networking websites. Now the concern is to discuss and justify/question the censorship on networking websites. To everyones surprise, censorship on networking websites does exist since the time they were introduced but not in the terms of what it is for news today. Censorship of these website is strongly necessitated for it is used world widely by all people be them, young, old, rich, poor, male, female, sensitive, harsh, all in all by a variety of people. As per a survey made by an American newspaper, if the posts of these websites are not closely watched and censored as per need arises, there shall be thousands of illegitimates posts on the walls of these websites which are not supposed to be there publicly similar to the banning of illegitimate poster on the physical walls. Just to make the point clear that censorship on networking websites has many ideas involved, let us remind ourselves of one Indian mythological and one Indian historical event for the same. Lord Krishna told Arjuna that Karma is greater than anything else in the whole universe. This conclusively leads to destruction of the evil in that era. Now connect it to present situation. Condemning publicly the acts of people/group of people/govt though not ethically good but practically necessary. Unless they shall know that they are wrong, they are bound to be wrong in future as well. The historical event that is against of censorship on networking websites in terms of censorship of right to speak is what happened during struggle of independence, when newspapers were banned and meetings of group of people were totally not allowed. This led to nothing but growth in anger of common masses which can be the reason of downfall of entire empire and the history is full of such examples. Today is the era when you forbid a thing and you have to explain the whole world around your that very action. Besides, people are determined to know that if found guilty of hiding ones selfish deeds behind that there will be a mass condemn for that. That was the reason, the present telecommunication and Information and technology minister Kapil Sibal faced such a bitter reply from the common masses as well as from the owners of networking websites. The censorship demanded by him and his ministry was totally for the selfish ends of their political party. They were unable to present a single valid reason behind their this demand and their digging into this area. The censorship in news right now was very much similar to the case where you are declined to the right of speech and right to life as well. If in a DEMOCRATIC country, there is such a violation of fundamental rights and people have no say, the downfall can be easily foreseen. However coming back to censorship on networking websites in general, as mentioned earlier that it is necessary*.*conditions apply. But the care must be taken that originality and facts dont get lost during this fragmentation. If it can create revolution in its own way, it should be allowed to. Because Change in itself is generally a betterment. To ensure its a betterment, yes there should be censorship. All in all, EXCESS OF EVERYTHING IS BAD, then it is eider censorship or freedom of speech. Hoping to have both be in sync. - Henna Jain

orruption In India Want to get some work done; take something in your pocket. These are the words which must be stuck round everywhere. Yes, truly speaking about the widespread corruption in India. Today corruption has become an inevitable issue. Corruption is seen in almost every part of Motherland. Viewing from working post regard almost each one has dipped himself into this sinful act. As you sow, so shall you reap is almost violated everywhere. Evil consideration of money as everything actually depraves oneself. Money pave as a way for all sorts of luxuries required in comfortable life. Be shameless and enjoy slogan has been encouraged in this world. No one realizes the suffering and pain of another. HONESTY is the best policy is an old and outdated saying today. It would be better to amend LIC, BIMA. A financially weak person can hardly think about producing vital governmental certificate comprising of nativity, etc. He better keeps himself away from this and thus deprive of facilities. This also makes the country more and more regressed. India today has many other problems too which slows the rate of progress. Eradication of corruption will reduce the problem to great extent. Many of us are really patriotic. Love for country, destine of sacrificing for motherland can only syncope the corruption today. Many desire to try their useful hands to eradicate this, but are suggested or advised that the smaller wheels of a machine has to work as the bigger one do. A trash one will be crushed by the higher authorities. One is always suggested to stiff upper lips and gets the work done. But the whole system can be reversed if the material of smaller wheels is converted from trash to a powerful one which would posses such an ability to amend the organization. Yes, speaking to get into a position which can comatose the present thinking of corrupts. An individual can try aspiring for an IAS, IPS officer to fight against this. There include another good way to fulfill this aim, i.e to optimize politics. Dust is only removed when one becomes a part of it. But today, none are interested in politics. Moreover, the view towards politics is so extreme that none of the political leaders are considered good for anything. Theres a great example regarding this fact. Dr. Abdul Kalam once visited a school and being a chief guest had an active conversation with the students. There he raised a topic of ambition and asked the students about their aim. As expected, many aspired to be an engineer, doctor, actor, etc. but none responded for political leadership. Highness Kalam on listening these, suggested students to change the way of viewing politics, better have an optimistic view of it. Today India can be saved from this poison of corruption only through entering into politics. So, we the young generation of the country must strive hard for eradicating corruption and other problem to make country prosperous. Patriotism within individual must be arisen. My Country is my Home ideas must be cultivated. Harmful mosquito and flies are destroyed when dared to get inside our home, this same feeling must be developed for our country too or we will be always developing, not developed. Today India is independent from British, but now is servicing corruption, ignorance, etc. we are independent under the slavery of weeds of corruption. Swapnil Kapse

Do Schools Put Too Much Pressure on Kids The rising population over the world has made the intraspecies struggle of human wider than before. Its implications are uglier than expected. Parents and guardian are putting much effort to transform their offspring a fitter individual to persist this survival race. The ancient gurukul system of India considered a child mentally fit enough to get trained, at the age of seven, but todays globalised education system lowered the bar to two years and not only that, a kid before it starts to speak is taught a variety of things beforehand in order to get into school and handle the pace and pressure generated during the course. The childhood that is juncture of amusement and relaxation has now become an old story. The kid of twenty first century has to learn, the tactics to face the burden brought forward by the schools. The nursery school that is aimed at physical, social and emotional development of the kid through ways that is meant to give the kid far reaching enjoyment is now diminishing. The toys like elephant, horse, truck, doll, bus and helicopter are now replaced by big letters of English alphabets, geometrical figures like square triangle, cube and mathematical symbols like plus, minus, into and divide. These new methods are only emerging intellectual portion of the kid rather than overall development. These education systems in the race of being the best have only become a centre of business. They are snatching the pleasant moments of kids and substituting it with weight of study which their delicate brains are incapable of handling. Parents too are not considerate that what their kid will lose today will never come back again-the hassle free moments. But in spite of all these parents are unable to judge the precise school which doesnt threaten their kid of the upcoming higher education. All these kindergartens that are meant only for business purposes may be quite detrimental for the growth of the kid into a successful person. Rather schools should understand that education should be a balance between skills and creative expressions-between the head and the heart. For the kids, the primary school is like a new world. Here they first learn the principles of discipline and that is in no way bad. But happens when the moderate level of discipline turns into excessive level of discipline; it not only pressurizes the kids but also make them rude internally which bursts out in their later life. The kids who are unable to do the home works are harshly beaten up with stick, which tortures them physically. Neither the teacher nor the principle ever tries to look into the matter why the kid was unable to do the homework. Instead of making the kid understand the concepts and clear his doubts in solving the problems, the teachers approach to his parents complaining your kid does not study. This creates mental pressure to the kid not only from the school but also an added pressure from their parents. At the secondary school level the kid, who was already facing the pressure of strict discipline and moral values, feels the pressure of higher studies. He feels the competition between his other class fellows who are getting better rank than him. He labors hard day and night, and in this race he hampers his health. But let me ask why he feels the competition? everyone knows that all of us have different capacities. Some are

good in sports and some are good at studies. But the main problem is our education system-the teachers praises those students who get better rank while they criticize and underestimate the one who are poor or average at studies. This mental pressure reaches its peak when the student appears for board examination. It has now become a remarkable truth that students getting poor marks in the board exams are criticized by the school, the parents as well as by the society. These extremes of pressure force the students to do suicide. The level of pressure experienced by the high school students is no less. They now become more alert towards the choice of their future profession. They also feel the stress of advanced studies in the stream they are pursuing-science, commerce or any other stream. The evils of increased criticism preexisting from the secondary school are inherited to the high school. The students have to prepare for entrance exams to get a fine college. While the school is focused at receiving better percentage in board, the student aims at getting better rank in entrance exams. As the syllabuses of both are different, the student feels loss in his confidence level. The teacher trains him shortcut methods for entrances which if he uses in his board is sure to get reduced marks. Hence the school confuses the student. If he doesnt do well in his board then the school is ready to criticize him, and if he doesnt do well in his entrances his parents rather than supporting him in this delicate situation are going to add extra mental pressure. This results in students of high school getting into grave depression. The kid of nursery, by the time he reaches high school becomes completely tired and exhausted by the pressure generating system i.e. the school. The schools of present era should use innovative strain free techniques to make the kid learn. They should understand that their aim is To educate students but notPressurize students and educate them. P.D.Nitya