Doubt Clearance Thread: UPSC 2021
"When in doubt, observe and ask questions. When certain, observe at length and ask many more questions."
Created this thread as a one stop solution for all members so that all the doubts wherein any conceptual clarification is required can be solved here.
I think that not fixed probably means not fixed by law. Even if they are not physically demarcated, even Sanctuaries must have boundaries. Otherwise how would we classify that land as revenue or forest. I think probably Sanctuaries will be demarcated in Forest department maps.Are boundaries of Wildlife Sanctuaries fixed? I've read somewhere that boundaries of National Parks are fixed but not that of WS. However, how can WS exist without having fixed boundaries?No, they are not specifically specified. I live near a local Wildlife Sanctuary and haven't seen any demarcation as such.
Idea is same, context is different. Earlier it was within the context of protectionist socialist economy where the major concerns were protecting domestic industry, saving foreign exchange etc. Now its within the context of a liberalized economy aiming at growth and job creation by leveraging exports, FDI etc.is there any real difference between self sufficiency and self-reliance?
"Going back to "self-sufficiency" that Nehru and Indira Gandhi tried would be a terrible idea
(flopped, India grew at 3.5%) and "self-reliance" is the main idea behind this scheme."
Are there any specific legislative provisions that oversee the creation of a new ministry, or is it merely an executive decision to do so?
Read this yesterday: https://theprint.in/theprint-essential/youth-affairs-in-2000-to-cooperation-in-2021-heres-how-new-ministries-are-formed/691599/
TLDR: it is an executive decision. President creates them on the advice of the PM, under the GoI (Allocation of Business) Rules, as provided for in Article 77. The only legislative provision on the subject is the 15% ceiling on the strength of the Council of Ministers which was imposed through the 91st Amendment of 2003.
Are there any specific legislative provisions that oversee the creation of a new ministry, or is it merely an executive decision to do so?Read this yesterday: https://theprint.in/theprint-essential/youth-affairs-in-2000-to-cooperation-in-2021-heres-how-new-ministries-are-formed/691599/
TLDR: it is an executive decision. President creates them on the advice of the PM, under the GoI (Allocation of Business) Rules, as provided for in Article 77. The only legislative provision on the subject is the 15% ceiling on the strength of the Council of Ministers which was imposed through the 91st Amendment of 2003.
Thanks a lot!
whatonly,THE_MECHANIC
sbhati,
Can states in India raise loans from outside India?
Article 293 states the following:
Subject to the provisions of this article, the executive power of a State extends to borrowing within the territory of India upon the security of the Consolidated Fund of the State within such limits, if any, as may from time to time be fixed by the Legislature of such State by law and to the giving of guarantees within such limits, if any, as may be so fixed.
So the answer to your question would be that state governments can NOT raise loans outside India.
That being said, I think state governments can directly borrow from from bilateral financing agencies abroad for infrastructure projects with the central government providing a counter-guarantee. That is, if the state government fails to pay back the loan, the Centre would pay them back.
Can someone clarify the difference between responsibility and accountability? At some places, it is written that responsibility cannot be assigned to someone while accountability can. But we do sometimes say "I am giving you the responsibility of doing XYZ". Is that an incorrect use of the term?
I think in a general sense both are quite similar and can be used interchangeably sometimes. They are different when we are speaking of institutions and governance.
In that case, responsibility is a general concept that tells you whose job is it is to do a certain task. Accountability is a way of actually enforcing that responsibility - it tells you not only who is responsible, but who can be held responsible.
A person who is accountable for a certain task is dutybound to answer questions about whether it was completed, how it was completed, when it can be expected to be completed etc., and if the answers are not satisfactory, the person may even have to face some penalty. Accountability is usually fixed on a certain person or institution through laws and rules.
Sometimes someone can be responsible for doing a certain task, but not be accountable for it. MPs have the responsibility to debate in the house, but they are not accountable to a court for what they say (of course, ultimately they are accountable to the public opinion - but there is no direct institutional mechanism for enforcing it)
Conversely, someone may not be responsible for something, but is still accountable for it. It isnotexpected of ministers to be responsible for writing every clause of a law that comes out of their ministry, but if some question is asked about it in Parliament, they would still be accountablefor it and have to answer it.
Usually when some process doesn't run properly, the problem isn't that no one is responsible for it, but that no one is accountable for it.
Can someone clarify the difference between responsibility and accountability? At some places, it is written that responsibility cannot be assigned to someone while accountability can. But we do sometimes say "I am giving you the responsibility of doing XYZ". Is that an incorrect use of the term?
Accountability isanswerabilityof a person for his decisions to aformal system. Responsibility ismoral obligationof an individual to behave with an essence of commitment to duty. For eg- Lal Bahadur Shastri took personal responsibility of a train accident and resigned, although he can not be held accountable for this. It is given in more detail in forum's red book on ethics, you may refer it.
balwintejas,Indian_HumanCan someone clarify the difference between responsibility and accountability? At some places, it is written that responsibility cannot be assigned to someone while accountability can. But we do sometimes say "I am giving you the responsibility of doing XYZ". Is that an incorrect use of the term?
Yes its the correct statement as you are assigning responsibility because you have accountability to devour responsibilities. If I am right, I had seen it in Atul Garg sir videos where he said that accountability is something within yourself, inside you, listening to your conscience while responsibility is something very external, which has been assigned and has little liability than accountability.
Can states in India raise loans from outside India?
Limited to infrastructure projects as others have been limited by centre discretion.
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/policy/states-can-borrow-directly-from-foreign-agencies-for-infrastructure-projects/articleshow/58260606.cms?from=mdr
I think then, the main difference is in the degree of formality. My boss may give me the responsibility of doing a task and if I don't do it, he may reprimand me for being irresponsible. This is an informal sort of punishment. However, if violate a company rule related to my official position, the punishment would be according to the rules and regulation. It will be more formal. This would be a way of holding me accountable. So we can probably conclude that:I think in a general sense both are quite similar and can be used interchangeably sometimes. They are different when we are speaking of institutions and governance.
In that case, responsibility is a general concept that tells you whose job is it is to do a certain task. Accountability is a way of actually enforcing that responsibility - it tells you not only who is responsible, but who can be held responsible.
A person who is accountable for a certain task is dutybound to answer questions about whether it was completed, how it was completed, when it can be expected to be completed etc., and if the answers are not satisfactory, the person may even have to face some penalty. Accountability is usually fixed on a certain person or institution through laws and rules.
Sometimes someone can be responsible for doing a certain task, but not be accountable for it. MPs have the responsibility to debate in the house, but they are not accountable to a court for what they say (of course, ultimately they are accountable to the public opinion - but there is no direct institutional mechanism for enforcing it)
Conversely, someone may not be responsible for something, but is still accountable for it. It isnotexpected of ministers to be responsible for writing every clause of a law that comes out of their ministry, but if some question is asked about it in Parliament, they would still be accountablefor it and have to answer it.
Usually when some process doesn't run properly, the problem isn't that no one is responsible for it, but that no one is accountable for it.
Responsibility is the duty to do something, while accountability is formally enforced responsibility with provisions of penalty.
Do you think this formulation is correct?
Also, I think your example of accountability without responsibility may not be totally correct. The minister may not be responsible for drafting each clause of the statute, but she is surely responsible to oversee the formulation of draft and present it in the house. Thus, her accountability to fellow legislators stems from this responsibility. I think accountability must necessarily include an aspect of responsibility. Do you agree with this?
whatonly,Quoting from the Red Book? ;) That is why I asked. It says responsibility cannot be assigned. But as I said in the question, we do sometimes talk of "giving responsibility".Can someone clarify the difference between responsibility and accountability? At some places, it is written that responsibility cannot be assigned to someone while accountability can. But we do sometimes say "I am giving you the responsibility of doing XYZ". Is that an incorrect use of the term?Accountability isanswerabilityof a person for his decisions to aformal system. Responsibility ismoral obligationof an individual to behave with an essence of commitment to duty. For eg- Lal Bahadur Shastri took personal responsibility of a train accident and resigned, although he can not be held accountable for this. It is given in more detail in forum's red book on ethics, you may refer it.
Accountability cannot be from inside. Accountability must be answerability to someone outside.Can someone clarify the difference between responsibility and accountability? At some places, it is written that responsibility cannot be assigned to someone while accountability can. But we do sometimes say "I am giving you the responsibility of doing XYZ". Is that an incorrect use of the term?Yes its the correct statement as you are assigning responsibility because you have accountability to devour responsibilities. If I am right, I had seen it in Atul Garg sir videos where he said that accountability is something within yourself, inside you, listening to your conscience while responsibility is something very external, which has been assigned and has little liability than accountability.
mehuifs,
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