Q. What are the applications of nanotechnology in food and agricultural fields?

A. Nanotechnology is having an impact on several aspects of the food industry, from how food is grown to how it is packaged. Companies are developing nanomaterials that will make a difference not only in the taste of food, but also in food safety, and the health benefits food delivers.

Use of nanomaterials in food packaging is already a reality. One example is bottles made with nanocomposites that minimize the leakage of carbon dioxide out of the bottle; this increases the shelf life of carbonated beverages without having to use heavier glass bottles or more expensive cans. Another example is food storage bins with silver nanoparticles embedded in the plastic. The silver nanoparticles kill bacteria from any food previously stored in the bins, minimizing harmful bacteria.

There are other food packaging products currently under development. For example nanosensors in plastic packaging can detect gases given off by food when it spoils and the packaging itself changes color to alert us to food gone bad.

Nanosensors are being developed that can detect bacteria and other contaminates such as salmonella on the surface of food at a packaging plant. This will allow for frequent testing at a much lower cost than is incurred by sending samples to a lab for analysis. This point-of-packaging testing, if conducted properly, has the potential to dramatically reduce the chance of contaminated food reaching grocery store shelves.

There are also nanosensors being developed to detect pesticides on fruit and vegetables.

Nanomaterials are being developed to improve the taste, color, and texture of foods. 

Nanoparticles are being used to deliver vitamins or other nutrients in food and beverages without affecting the taste or appearance. These nanoparticles actually encapsulate the nutrients and carry them through the stomach into the bloodstream. For many vitamins this delivery method also allows a higher percentage of the nutrients to be used by the body because, when not encapsulated by the nanoparticles, some nutrients would be lost in the stomach.

Researchers are working on pesticides encapsulated in nanoparticles; these only release pesticide in an insect’s stomach, which minimizes the contamination of plants themselves.

Another development being looked at is a network of nanosensors and dispensers throughout a food crop. The sensors recognize when a plant needs nutrients or water, before we could see any sign that the plant is deficient. The dispensers then release fertilizer, nutrients, or water as needed, optimizing the growth of each plant in the field one by one.

Q. What do you understand by “Minimum Government but Maximum Governance”?

A. It is the new driver of government in India today. It has many connotations.

Large governments have been built up to serve the people but they have been an obstacle to good quality of governance. Laws have multiplied, but services rendered have been quite poor. There has been more attention paid to the size of the government and not so much to its quality. Small yet efficient government is the need of the hour. One of the implications is that the role of a Government in businesses should be limited to that of a facilitator, the essence of economic reforms followed since 1991.Inspector raj needs to be selectively dismantled.

Allowing self-certification is another example.

Speed and quality of the justice mechanism depends as much on use of technology and innovations like Lok Adalats. 

Decentralization is a basic pillar of good governance and adequate powers should be given to people.

When red tape is cut, citizen satisfaction is more and entrepreneurs are encouraged. Rules and regulations are a means to an end and not an end in itself. Some times, they become barriers to good governance.

In Gujarat, a ‘Special Purpose Vehicle’ called WASMO (Water and Sanitation Management Organization) was created to empower the rural communities to manage their water situation. Village level Pani Samitis (Water Councils) empowered rural communities.

Q. What was the outcome related to Kailash Mansarovar during Chinese President Xi"s visit to India in September? What are the benefits to yatris?

A. Indians travelling on the annual Kailash Manasarovar yatra have another route, with China agreeing to allow the yatra through the Nathula pass in Sikkim. The new route will pass through the city of Shigatse, which is part of the Tibetan Autonomous Region.This new route will be in addition to the Lipulekh pass in Uttarakhand through which the yatracurrently takes place.

A Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministries of External Affairs of India and China signed during Xi’s visit allows for the opening of the new route for Indian pilgrims to the Tibet Autonomous Region in the People’s Republic of China.

The new route offers many benefits. It makes Kailash Mansarovar accessible by a motorable road, which is especially beneficial for older pilgrims. It offers a safer alternative in the rainy season, makes the pilgrimage shorter in duration and will enable a much higher number of pilgrims to go there.

Q. What do you know of " Asia"s security diamond"? How far is it being realised?

A. Japan’s “Asian Security Diamond” strategic concept is the brainchild of Japan’s present Prime Minister Shinzo Abe as a strategic response to China casting menacing maritime shadows over the Western Pacific and Indian Ocean.

The “Asian Security Diamond” strategic concept was unveiled byPM Shinzo Abe as he assumed office for the second time as Japan’s Prime Minister last year. Earlier, in his first term as Japan’s Prime Minister on a visit to India addressing the Indian Parliament in 2007, PM Abe spoke of the “Confluence of Two Seas” (originally used by Dara Shikoh) alluding that the security and safety of the Western Pacific and the Indian Ocean were indivisible and that Japan and India should take the lead in conjunction with other like-minded nations to ensure the maritime security of what is now being referred jointly as Indo Pacific Asia.

The “Asian Security Diamond” strategic concept as spelt out by Abe envisaged a strategic coalition of Australia, India, Japan and the US State of Hawaii to safeguard the maritime commons extending from the Indian Ocean and extending to the entire Western Pacific. All four countries are democracies.

The emerging partnerships and security cooperation among the four countries, particularly after Modi's arrival is proof of the value of the idea.

Q. What was the aerial defence system developed jointly by India and another country that passed its first trial in November 2014? How significant is it?

A. An aerial defence system developed jointly by Israel and India passed its first trial simulating combat conditions .

The Barak 8 system is designed to shoot down incoming aircraft or missiles from land or sea platforms. The value of the project is $1.4 billion and highlights burgeoning Israeli-Indian defence ties.

The Indian partner in the project signed in 2006 is the government Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). Barak 8 was tested in Israel and is Long Range Surface to Air Missile (LRSAM).

The Israeli and Indian militaries both plan to use Barak 8 once it becomes operational within months.

Q. What is NISAR in the Indo-USA relation. State the benefits.

A. The United States and India are moving forward in developing a joint mission to improve understanding of key impacts of climate change, advance our knowledge of natural hazards, and enable many applications for social benefits. NASA and ISRO signed an agreement to conduct the

joint NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) mission for which NASA will provide an L-band SAR instrument and other hardware and ISRO will provide an S-band SAR, the spacecraft bus, and the launch vehicle. 

Joint NISAR Earth-observing mission will make global measurements of the causes and consequences of land surface changes.Potential areas of research include ecosystem disturbances, ice sheet collapse and natural hazards.The NISAR mission is optimised to measure subtle changes of the Earth's surface associated with motions of the crust and ice surfaces.NISAR will improve our understanding of key impacts of climate change and advance our knowledge of natural hazards, he said.

NISAR will be the first satellite mission to use two different radar frequencies (L-band and S-band) to measure changes in our planet's surface less than a centimetre across.

This allows the mission to observe a wide range of changes, from the flow rates of glaciers and ice sheets to the dynamics of earthquakes and volcanoes.

Q. One of the technologies that the USA is said to have offered to India is " magnetic catapults". What do you know of it? Mention its advantages.

A. One such technology is the magnetic catapult- makes it possible for larger planes to take off from smaller ships.

The Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) is a system under development by the United States Navy . The main advantage is that this system allows for a more graded acceleration, inducing less stress on the aircraft's airframe. Other advantages include lower system weight, lower cost, and decreased maintenance requirements. It also will provide the ability to launch aircraft that are both heavier or lighter than the conventional system can accommodate. In addition the system has limited requirements for fresh water, reducing the need for energy-intensive desalination.

Q. Do you agree with the view that Indian economy is better placed to deal with the Quantitative Easing "tapering"?

A. In 2013 second half India had to go through enormous pressure on the exchange rate of rupee and BOP due to flight of capital as US economy recovered , interest rates were set to be higher in the US and QE would be tapered. However, in the last more than one year, Indian macro economic realities have changed for the better. Indian economy bottomed out and is set to grow 5% Plus. Many domestic economic reforms have taken place and the world is taking note of our energy sector, FDI, labour and other reforms. Stock and bond markets are attracting foreign flows. CAD is far reduced. Forex holdings are respectable at $325 billions. On the political front, single party with absolute majority anchoring a coalition government is a huge confidence booster for the economy. Dynamic and passionate leadership of our PM also makes difference such that India is far better placed to deal with global developments like QE taper.

Q. " Masala bonds are a turning point in many ways." Comment with an introduction.

A. International Finance Corp. (IFC), the private sector investment arm of the World Bank, has issued a 10-year, Rs.1,000-crore bond in London to fund infrastructure projects in India. These bonds, which will be listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE), are called masala bonds. Masala bonds are Indian rupee denominated bonds issued in offshore capital markets. These will be offered and settled in US dollars to raise Indian rupees from international investors for infrastructure development in India. IFC will convert bond proceeds from dollars into rupees and use the rupees to finance private sector investment in India. IFC has named these ‘Masala’ bonds as ‘masala’ is a globally recognized term that evokes the culture and cuisine of India. This is not the first time that a bond has been named after the food or culture of a country. Chinese bonds, for example, are called Dim sum bonds, and Japanese ones as Samurai bonds. 

IFC had earlier issued offshore rupee bonds with maturities up to seven years. This issuance will be the first to be listed on a stock exchange. The proceeds will be used for infrastructure investment in India and sectors that contribute to economic growth and job creation. The current issue is the first tranche issued under IFC’s $2-billion offshore rupee programme. 

Issuances in overseas financial centres such as London give countries like India a chance to tap global investors for funding investment needs. Listing on LSE will provide visibility, and set a benchmark for yields in future issuances. It could also increase demand for similar products later as liquidity of these bonds goes up. This also shows the confidence of international investors in the Indian economy and its currency.It is a part of the process of internationalisation of the rupee.

Q. What are reproductive rights and how far are they available practically to women in India?

A. Reproductive rights are legal rights and freedoms relating to reproduction. Reproductive rights may include some or all of the following:a. the right to legal and safe abortionb. the right to birth controlc. freedom from coerced sterilization and contraceptiond. the right to access good-quality reproductive healthcaree. the right to education and access in order to make free and informed reproductive choices

Reproductive rights may also include the right to receive education about sexually transmitted infections.

Women in ndia enjoy these rights but practically the limitations are due to lack of literacy; absence of institutional facilities; socially inferior status, for example, the tragedies from women-centered sterilisations as seen in Bilaspur last week.

Q. What are autoimmune diseases? What is their effect?

A. Autoimmune diseases arise from an abnormal immune response of the body against substances and tissues normally present in the body (autoimmunity). This may be restricted to certain organs or involve a particular tissue in different places.

A large number of autoimmune diseases are recognized. 

It has been estimated that autoimmune diseases are among the top ten leading causes of death among women in all age groups up to 65 years.A substantial minority of the population suffers from these diseases, which are often chronic, debilitating, and life-threatening.There are more than 80 illnesses caused by autoimmunity.

Lupus is a chronic, autoimmune disease that can damage any part of the body (skin, joints, and/or organs inside the body). Chronic means that the signs and symptoms tend to last longer than six weeks and often for many years.

In lupus, something goes wrong with the immune system, which is the part of the body that fights off viruses, bacteria, and germs ("foreign invaders," like the flu). Normally our immune system produces proteins called antibodies that protect the body from these invaders. Autoimmune means our immune system cannot tell the difference between these foreign invaders and our body’s healthy tissues ("auto" means "self") and creates autoantibodies that attack and destroy healthy tissue. These autoantibodies cause inflammation, pain, and damage in various parts of the body.

The treatment of autoimmune diseases is typically with immunosuppression—medication that decreases the immune response.

Q. Is there a difference between Public Interest Litigation and Public Cause Litigation? Illustrate.

A. In “public cause litigation” , the court’s intervention is not sought for enforcing the rights of the disadvantaged or poor sections of the society (PIL whose examples are well k own. ), but simply for correcting the actions or omissions of the executive or public officials or departments of government or public bodies. Examples of this type of intervention by the Court are innumerable. In the interest of preventing pollution, the Supreme Court ordered control over automobile emissions, air and noise and traffic pollution, gave orders for parking charges, wearing of helmets in cities, cleanliness in housing colonies, disposal of garbage, control of traffic in New Delhi, made compulsory the wearing of seat belts, ordered action plans to control and prevent the monkey menace in cities and towns, ordered measures to prevent accidents at unmanned railway level crossings, prevent ragging of college freshmen, for collection and storage in blood banks, and for control of loudspeakers and banning of fire crackers.

In recent orders, the Supreme Court has directed the most complex engineering of interlinking rivers in India. The Court has passed orders banning the pasting of black film on automobile windows. On its own, the Court has taken notice of Baba Ramdev being forcibly evicted from the Ramlila grounds

by the Delhi Administration and censured it. The Court has ordered the exclusion of tourists in the core area of tiger reserves. All these orders by the Court are in pursuit of enforcing fundamental rights under Article 32 of the Constitution. In reality, no fundamental rights of individuals or any legal issues are at all involved in such cases. The Court is only moved for better governance and administration. Some experts call these interventions Public Cause Litigation. While it is welcome, there are worries about separation of powers.

Q. Explain “ lotus effect”. What are its industrial applications through nanotechnology?

A. The lotus effect refers to self-cleaning properties that are a result of very high water repellence (superhydrophobicity), as exhibited by the leaves of the lotus flower (Nelumbo). Dirt particles are picked up by water droplets due to the micro- and nanoscopic architecture on the surface, which minimizes the droplet's adhesion to that surface. Superhydrophobicity and self-cleaning properties are also found in other plants, such as Tropaeolum (nasturtium), Opuntia(prickly pear), Alchemilla, cane, and also on the wings of certain insects.

Some plant leaves just can’t get wet or dirty. Lotus plants have superhydrophobic surfaces. Water drops that fall onto them bead up and roll off. These leaves not only stay dry, but the droplets pick up small particles of dirt as they roll, so that the lotus leaves are even self-cleaning.

The lotus leaves have nanostructures on their surfaces. These nanostructures are coated with hydrophobic wax crystals approximately 1 nm in diameter.This makes the surface at the nanoscale quite rough. This rough surface is more hydrophobic than a smooth surface would be. 

Remarkably, despite constant exposure to dust, dirt, rain and other elements, the leaves of the lotus plant remain clean and dry. Scientists have discovered that this is because the surface of each leaf contains nanometer-sized waxy bumps that prevent dirt and water from adhering.

Engineers have replicated this “nano-mountain” structure in a product called Lotusan paint. Buildings painted with Lotusan self-clean every time it rains. The surface of the building always stays dry due to the lotus effect, preventing leaks. Through new advances in nanotechnology, scientists are also discovering ways to create other materials with microscopically bumpy surfaces that mimic the lotus leaf. They hope to make all kinds of self-cleaning and super-non-stick materials, such as self-cleaning windows, non-stick medical devices that will prevent blood clots, and kitchenware that can simply be rinsed and reused because food and other contamination can’t stick to it.

Q." Asset Reconstruction Company is an institutional innovation with significant benefit at the macro and micro level." Substantiate.

A. An asset reconstruction company’s primary goal is to manage and to make profitable those assets which have been underperforming or become formally classified as NPA’s belonging to companies who have been unable to generate sufficient timely revenue to service their outstanding obligations. In the process, the whole economy benefits, as a previously non performing asset is

now restored to function normally. That such an option exists itself is a means of boosting entrepreneur’s confidence, and gives other options than filing for bankruptcy or insolvency in times of stress.

ARC’s charge a management fee or commission for their services from the distressed company/individual.

In India the problem of recovery from NPAs was recognized in 1997 by Government of India. The Narasimhan Committee wanted to reduce the high level of NPAs as a means of banking sector reform. Asset Reconstruction Company (Securitization Company / Reconstruction Company) is a company registered under Securitization and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest (SRFAESI) Act, 2002. It is regulated by Reserve Bank of India as a Non Banking Financial Company ARC has been set up to provide a focused approach to Non-Performing Loans resolution issue by:-(a) Isolating Non Performing Assets (NPAs) from the Financial System (b) Freeing the financial system to focus on their core activities and(c) Facilitating development of market for distressed assets.

Asset Reconstruction Companies have seen an increase in their client base during the recession, with many companies experiencing financial difficulties and having distressed assets in their possession. 

India’s first ARC was a company named ARCIL which has been a leader and a pioneer in this field, having established industry standards for the rest of the market to follow.

Q. What is anthrax? Why was it in news recently in India?

A. Anthrax is an acute disease caused by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis. Most forms of the disease are lethal, and it affects both humans and other animals. Effective vaccines against anthrax are now available, and some forms of the disease respond well to antibiotic treatment.

Like many other members of the genus Bacillus, B. anthracis can form dormant endospores that are able to survive in harsh conditions for. When spores are inhaled, ingested, or come into contact with a skin lesion on a host, they may become reactivated and multiply rapidly.

Anthrax commonly infects wild and domesticated herbivorous mammals that ingest or inhale the spores while grazing. Ingestion is thought to be the most common route by which herbivores contract anthrax. Carnivores living in the same environment may become infected by consuming infected animals. Diseased animals can spread anthrax to humans, either by direct contact (infected blood to broken skin) or by consumption of a diseased animal's flesh.At least seven persons died of suspected anthrax in the mid 2014 in Simdega district, Jharkhand - mostly tribals as , when a couple of bullocks died they ate their meat.

Q. “Quality of assets created under MGNREGA has been a worrying aspect and needs constructive solution.” Comment and give suggestions.

A. An important objective of MGNREGA is the creation of durable assets to strengthen the natural resource base of rural India and perpetuate livelihood security. However, MGNREGA has come under strong criticism on the quality and sustainability of the assets created under it. What is required is emphasis on creation of durable and quality assets through convergence of MGNREGA with other Schemes

To strengthen quality and durability of assets, ensure optimal use of resources and livelihood security, the State Governments should proactively take up convergence of MGNREGA with Schemes of other departments with a greater focus on agriculture and allied activities.Convergence should be viewed in the sense of a value add to MGNREGA either through technical/human resources or financial resources through material component.

60:40 to be maintained at district level: To provide an impetus to convergence and creation of more durable assets, the 60:40 ratio for wage and material costs could be maintained at district level for all works taken together irrespective of the implementing agencies.

Capacity Building of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj functionaries through training modules is necessary.

Inadequate technical staff for measurement and monitoring are major constraints to ensuring good quality assets. The MGNREGA could move towards a more community based system of monitoring and supervision which would include building the capacity of and motivating the community and other stakeholders like NGOs, SHGs etc.

Q. “To see what is right and not to do it is want of courage.” Confucius. 

Ethical dilemmas are faced by all people at various points of time in their relationships- personal and social. In such situations it is more or less clear as to what should be the right course of action. For example, not to join a company that has indulged in unethical practices. There are times when we have to blow the whistle. There are other times that demand resignation due to the moral pressures. Even as one sees the right course of action, if one does not do it, he is a coward. He does not have the courage of conviction. Such courage comes about by the education one receives; family is a source of conscience and courage; the ethics infrastructure like laws, institutions and how well they work. Courage comes when one disregards the consequences if one is adequately convinced of the rightness of action.

It means that if we are in a situation where we know what the right thing to do is, and we don't do it anyway, then we are cowardly or weak of morale and lack courage.

Q. “Ethics may be only instrumental, it may be only a means to an end, but it is a necessary means to an end” (Dennis Thompson).Critically expand in the context of public service.

A. Ethics is the right way of doing things. It is a part of all or most of our actions. For a public agency, ethics is the other side of all its actions. Take the example of Government: Government is essentially in a country like ours a welfare institution. It is expected to provide and produce valued public goods and services such as justice, safety, security, transportation, clean air and water, parks and recreation, safe food and drugs, emergency services, and more. In every action mentioned above, ethics is a necessary part. For example: transportation. It involves transport for all sections- rich and poor. Similarly, water and security. 

Ethics is thus the cornerstone of effective and democratic governance. The quotation says that ethics is in the nature of means. It is so. The means part is that performance of duty has to be honest. Delivery of services should be transparent and accuntable. Citizen participation, where necessary ,should be encouraged. 

But it also is an end. In the Indian Constitution an entire Chapter on Directive Principles of State Policy is meant for ethical goals. Taking care of the vulnerable sections is an ethical end. Thus, ethics is both an end and a means to an end. 

The challenge is to ensure that public officials, elected and appointed, understand the importance of ethics in carrying out the work of government and then act on that understanding.

Q. How do you aproach the question when asked to "critically evaluate"?

A. Critically evaluate means: Give your opinion as to what extent a given statement is true and to what extent you agree with it . Provide evidence taken from a wide range of sources which both agree with and contradict an argument. Come to a final conclusion and justify it.

Take this statement: Critically evaluate Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act 2005 in the light of the last nearly one decade of experience.

Write your answer based on the evidence related to 

1. Wages2. impact on profitability in agriculture3. fiscal burden4. corruption5. lack of maintenance of assets6. manual labour without machines defeats construction of sound assets

And 

1. checking migration2. creation of green assets

3. empowerment through social audits4. India’s improved position on the GH Index

Then, you take up a balanced position like change the wage-material ratio to spend more on materials; link it with skilling programmes; make it more transparent and accountable etc.

Q. What do you understand by the term " analyse" in a question?

A. Analyse means study the issue carefully to discover the meaning and to form an opinion. Take a question: The impact of “ taper” of Quantitative Easing can be better withstood by India today. All you need to do is understand QE; how it can impact us when it is being phased out; and how our BOP is stronger today to survive the impact.

Similarly, analyse this statement: “ Pakistan’s pursuit of “strategic depth” with domination of its western neighbor is undermining its own security.”

Q. What are Concentrated Solar Power(CSP) Technologies? Explain briefly how they operate. Which one is the most popular?

A. Concentrated solar power (also called concentrating solar power, concentrated solar thermal, and CSP) systems generate solar power by using mirrors or lenses to concentrate a large area of sunlight, or solar thermal energy, onto a small area. Electricity is generated when the concentrated light is converted to heat, which drives a heat engine (usually a steam turbine) connected to an electrical power generator.

CSP is being widely commercialized and t growth is expected to continue at a fast pace in India.CSP is not to be confused with concentrated photovoltaics (CPV). In CPV, the concentrated sunlight is converted directly to electricity via the photovoltaic effect.

Most current CSP plants( 90%) are based on trough technology, but tower technology is increasing and linear Fresnel installations emerging.

Parabolic trough technology :A parabolic trough consists of a linear parabolic reflector that concentrates light onto a receiver positioned along the reflector's focal line. The receiver is a tube positioned directly above the middle of the parabolic mirror and filled with a working fluid. The reflector follows the sun during the daylight hours by tracking along a single axis. A working fluid is heated to 150–350 °C as it flows through the receiver and is then used as a heat source for a power generation system.

Fresnel reflectors :They are made of many thin, flat mirror strips to concentrate sunlight onto tubes through which working fluid is pumped. Flat mirrors allow more reflective surface in the same amount of space as a parabolic reflector, thus capturing more of the available sunlight, and they are much cheaper than parabolic reflectors. Fresnel reflectors can be used in various size CSPs

Solar power tower :A solar power tower consists of an array of dual-axis tracking reflectors (heliostats) that concentrate sunlight on a central receiver atop a tower; the receiver contains a fluid deposit, which can consist of sea water. The working fluid in the receiver is heated to 500–1000 °C and then used as a heat source for a power generation or energy storage system.

Trough systems are the most developed CSP technology.

Q.Write on recent Pro Kabaddi League games in India. Recount some successes at the international level for the Indian teams.

A.The Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) is a professional kabaddi league in India, based on the format of the Indian Premier League. The first edition of the tournament started on 26 July 2014 with eight franchises consisting of players from around the world. Pro Kabaddi takes the sport of Kabaddi to levels of new professionalism, which will benefit all stakeholders involved in the ecosystem of the game, Kabaddi, most of all, the players themselves, who will become the new role models for the youth of India. It highlights the new, modern, international and competitive face of Kabaddi throughout the length and breadth of the country, and beyond. Pro Kabaddi is an eight-city league with games played on a caravan format with each team playing each other twice in July and August, 2014. Maninder Singh got the title ‘Jaipur ka Panther.’ He helped Jaipur Pink Panthers win the inaugural Pro Kabaddi League.

India won gold in Men’s and Women’s Kabaddi beating Iran in Asian Games in Incheon in South Korea in October 2014.

Q.“ Judicial independence goes much beyond appointment and removal process.” Comment.

A. In the context of the 121st CAB and the National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) Bill, passed by Parliament in the monsoon session, a debate is raging about how to ensure judicial independence. It is held that in order to insulate the judiciary from the political pressures, judges should appoint judges as said by the apex court in the 1993 ruling. Critics hold that the collegium system ushered in in that verdict lacks accountability and a system of checks and balances is necessary. The current Bills are partly related to it.However, to enable the judges to function independently , it is necessary lay down clearly the qualifications for appointment in an elaborate way as to who is eligible and who is not. Conditions of service have to be made more attractive. Post-retirement engagement in Government needs to be restricted with a cooling off period. The presence of two civil society members as eminent persons in

the NJAC will also enable selection of right persons. Removal process is difficult as it stands today and can continue to be so. However, judicial accountability for lesser misdemeanours needs to be introduced. Also, a judicial standards framework needs to be formulated.

Q. Why is “single directive” a violation of equality before law, according to a recent Supreme Court ruling? 

Central Government had made it mandatory for the CBI to take the prior approval of the government to even conduct a preliminary inquiry into allegations of corruption against officers in all civil services of the rank/grade of Joint Secretary and above. This was called the 'Single Directive'. A three-judge Bench of the Supreme Court struck down this Single Directive as being arbitrary and violative of the guarantee of equal treatment and equal protection of the law for all officers under Article 14 of the Constitution. That was in the Vineet Narain judgment. Central Government gave statutory status to the Central Vigilance Commission through the Central Vigilance Commission Act (CVC Act) and brought back the Single Directive in that law as well as by amending the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act (DSPE Act). What the Apex Court had struck down earlier was only an executive direction/resolution. Now the protective shield for senior officials was given legal sanction with the stamp of Parliamentary approval to the 'Single Directive'. The Government argued that such protection was essential for senior level officers to function in an independent manner without fear of prosecution for every decision they made. This was like immunising the senior bureaucracy from any inquiry into allegations of corruption against it. On being challenged under a PIL, the Supreme Court referred the matter to a Constitution Bench How did the Court rule? The Constitution Bench of the Court held that the 'Single Directive' contained in the CVC Act and the DSPE Act violated the guarantee of Article 14 of the Constitution. Same is not granted to junior level officers. Further, equal grade officers at the state level do not enjoy such immunity. Therefore, it is violative of Art.14.