Latest Group Discussion Topics With Answers

21/06/2015
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Introduction
A good discussion will try to arrive at a solution that shows balance. You need to demonstrate your
understanding of the issue from more than one perspective alone. The conclusion at the end should indicate a
filtrationofthemorerelevantissuesandrecommendationsforpolicies/changesthatcanbemadeinthecurrent
system.Givenbelowareafewsampletopicsalongwithpointerstowardswhatkindofconclusionscanbedrawn
fromthediscussion.
Shouldweallowincurablydiseasedpersonstoliveornot?
ShouldCapitalpunishmentbeabolished?
Whatisdesirablelovemarriageorarrangedmarriage?
IsScienceacurseoraboon?
Seniority,NotMerit,MustBeTheCriterionForPromotions
AreReservationsInJobsJustified?
WhatformofDemocracyisbetterparliamentaryorpresidential?
Shouldweallowincurablydiseasedpersonstoliveornot?
PointsInFavour:
http://gdpi.hitbullseye.com/group_discussion_solved_GDs.php
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Ifwefeelsadtokillevenananimalorabird,howcanourconscienceallowustokillafellowhuman
beingjustbecauseheisincurablyill?Moreoverhehasdonenoharmtosocietyandhisillnessisnot
becauseofhisfault.Therefore,wemustprovidehimpropertreatmentandallowhimtoliveaslongas
naturehaswilledit
God has gifted us life. So, he alone has the right to take it back. No human being has a right to
interfere in His scheme of things.Once on this earth, every man has a right to live as long as God
does not want him to die.Therefore,the reasoning that just because a man is suffering from an
incurabledisease,heshouldbeputtodeathisuntenableandbeyondreason
Itisnotalwaysthecasethatincurablydiseasedpersonsspreadcontagiousdiseasesassomemight
argue. Even in those rare cases where it may be true, these persons are not real health hazards
becauseitismedicallyestablishednowthatallincurablediseasesarenotcontagious.However,asa
precautionary measure, we should open separate hospitals or isolation wards for persons suffering
fromincurablecontagiousdiseasesandthusquarantinethem.
Killing an incurably diseased person will put an end to research work in medical science. Even
otherwise, suffering people have been the subject of research work quite less. Now new vistas of
progress have been opened in medical sciences and alternative medicine like Acupuncture,
Acupressure, Reiki Pranik healing, Touch therapy, Herbal therapy, Diet therapy, etc. hold a ray of
hopeforthesocalledincurablydiseasedpersons.So,whysnatchlifefromthem?
Pointsagainst:
This world is governed by Darwin's survival of the fittest principle. An incurably diseased person is
weakandhasnovaluewhatsoevertothesociety.Moreover,hehasnomeanstolive.Therefore,it
wouldbeinthefitnessofthingstokillhimevenagainsthiswish.
Anincurablydiseasedpersonisthecauseofconstantworrytohisfamily,hisdemandsareunending
andnotwithstandingthebestpossibleattention,careandtreatmentgiventohim,healwaysremains
dissatisfied and disgruntled. This adversely affects peace of mind and comfort of the family
members.Therefore,thebestwayoutofsuchasituationistoputanendtohislife.
These days we are saddled with the responsibility of reducing our burgeoning population. The many
diseased persons constitute a good part of it. Even otherwise their contribution to society being nil
andburdengreat,itwouldbejustifiedandreasonablenottoallowthemtodragontheiragonizinglife.
Conclusion:
Defininggrayareasissomethingwhichanyamountoflegislationcanneverachieve.Ourpoliciesneedto
ensure that the group of people taking a decision to terminate the life is doing so in the best interest of
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thepatientandsociety.
ShouldCapitalpunishmentbeabolished?
InFavourOfAbolition:
ScrolltoTop
Manissupposedtobearationalanimal.Butcanarationalbeingkillamanforaman?No.Because
itwouldbesavageandbarbarous.Besides,bykillingamurdererthedeadcannotbebroughtbackto
life, nor would he or his family be compensated. So, instead, we should reform the killer, make him
realizehissinandfollowavirtuouslife.
Ifwekillthemurderer,histroublesareover.Buthisfamilyismadetosufferfornofaultoftheirs.We
shouldinsteadgivehimsomeotherpunishment,say,forexample,lifeimprisonmentsothathehas
to face his own conscience and repent for what he has done. Alongside, he should be given
psychologicaltreatmentandanopportunitytoleadanormalcitizen'slife.
Instances are many where instead of being given capital punishment to even hardened criminals,
theywerejustimprisonedorputinareformatorywiththeresultthattheyrealizedandregrettedtheir
wrongdoings,theirtermsofsentenceswerereducedasareward.Suchactsenabledthemtoserve
theirinnocentfamiliesandtheyeventurnedtowardssocialwork.Thisshowstheircapitalpunishment
isnottheonlyremedytotakecareofcriminals.
Weobservetodaythatinspiteofcapitalpunishmentbeingverymuchthereonthestatute,heinous
crimes are not decreasing. It goes to show that capital punishment is no deterrent for criminals.
Therefore,wemustthinkofchangingthemethodofpunishment.Over30countriesintheworldhave
abolished capital punishment but none has reported any increase in crime. Therefore, death
punishmentisnotjustifiedfromanyangle.
The reason capital punishment should be abolished is based on the fact that sometimes judgments
gowrong,and,consequently,innocentpeoplearehanged.Thisisbecauseofthelegalisticjugglingof
clever lawyers. Even otherwise instances are not rare when corrupt police officials are brought over
through money and political power to file patently cooked up charge sheets in the court and
magistrates in turn pass doubtful judgments. The only way to preclude the possibility of error is to
abolish capital punishment itself. Benefit of Doubt is an important point of law and rightly so
becauselawholdsthat99guiltycangounpunishedbutevenoneinnocentshouldnotbepunished.In
the same spirit our Supreme Court has held that death penalty should be awarded only in rarest of
therarecases.
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Wehavenorighttodestroywhatwecannotcreate.ItisforGodtogiveortakeone'slife.Mercyis
higherinhiseyesthanpunishment.Itisbarbaroustoholdthedoctrineoftoothfortoothandlimb
for limb. Great soul like Jesus Christ even say If a man slaps you on one cheek, show him the
other cheek also. Our own Mahatma Gandhi forgave the person who stabbed him and would surely
havepardonedNathuramGodsewhokilledhim.NehruignoredthepleaofseveraltrueGandhiansfor
Godse'slifebysaying,Thelawwillhaveitscourse.Butisn'tittrue,asCharlesDickenssaid,that
thelawisanidiot?
AgainstAbolition:
Thetimeisnotyetripetoabolishcapitalpunishment.Thereisnoletupincrimes.Capitalpunishment
isaneffectivedeterrentforwouldbeoffendersandmurderers.Thosewhoarguethatdespitecapital
punishment being there on the statute book crime in on the increase fail to understand that it is
because of our faulty justice delivery system where justice delayed is justice denied, and not the
otherwayround.
Therearecertainkindsofhardenedcriminalswhoarebeyondreform.Itisfutiletoteachthemsanity.
Killing others has become their second nature and they have dozens of murder cases pending
againstthem.Itwouldonlybeforthegoodofsocietythattheyaresenttothegallowsandthustheir
careerincrimeisstopped.
Ifamurdererisnotputtodeathbutinsteadallowedtoliveon,heistemptedtorepeatthecrimein
future. It often happens that murderers set at large through police connivance or legal trickery of
lawyersindulgeinmoreheinouscrimesforfunorcontractkillingsuntiltheyarecaughtandkilled.
In some Muslim countries like Pakistan, Iran, Dubai, etc. where laws are rigid and even petty
criminals are awarded harsh punishments, crime is rare. Similarly in Fascist countries where death
penalty is awarded for negligence of duty or other offences, efficiency and honesty are found in
abundance.JawaharlalNehruoncefavoredcapitalpunishmentforblackmarketeersaswell.Idonot
wanttoharmthemeanestinsectbutitwouldgivemethegreatestpleasuresofallblackmarketeers
arehungupbythenecktilldeath.
Punishment must be proportional to the crime. One who takes a life, should pay for it with his own
life.Thatalonecanhaveadeterrenteffectonthecriminals.Itisbothethicallyandpracticallywrong
toshowanyleniencytohardboiledcriminals.Wewouldbeexcusingorplacatingcriminalsonlyatour
own peril because then they would feel emboldened to commit further crime. Therefore, though 'an
eyeforaneye'and'atoothforatooth'appearsbrutalbutitisthedemandoftruejustice.
Amurderenotonlykillsahumanbeingbutalsomakesthelifeofhisvictim'sdependantsmiserable,
because in most such cases their breadwinner is snatched from them and in some extreme cases
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they might go after the blood of the murderer and might kill them. Therefore, it is advisable that a
murdererisputtodeathbythearmofthelawitself.
Crime is contagious. Hence quick dispensation of justice and award of capital punishment to
hardenedcriminals,astheydoitinPakistan,Bangladeshandinsomeothercountries,cansurelynip
thiscontagioninthebudandprovehelpfulinimprovingthelawandordersituationinourcountry.
Conclusion:
What crimes are amongst the rarest of the rare? Definitions of crime are subjective. Human life is
invaluableboththevictim'sandthemurderer's.Societyneedsdeterrentstocrime.Thebestpolicywould
betodetercrimewiththelowestpossibleharmtomembersofsociety.
Whatisdesirablelovemarriageorarrangedmarriage?
InFavourOfLoveMarriage:
Youngpeopleshouldbeallowedtochoosetheirownpartnersbecausenaturehassomadethemthat
uponreachingtheageofconsentyoungboysandgirlsfeelnaturallyattractedtowardsthememberof
oppositesexwhomtheyfindtobeMr.RightorMissRightforthemselves.
Inarrangedmarriages,parentsarenotinapositiontoknowthegirlwellenoughthatis,theymaynot
be aware of her personality traits. In arranged marriages, we generally get to know about the family
background and outward appearance of the girl or the boy, their educational attainments, career
plans, etc. and in the case of girls, their interest and proficiency in household affairs cooking,
knitting, tailoring, etc. But success or failure of married life depends on the basic temperament,
nature and compatibility or otherwise of the partner. Therefore, to make marriage a success, young
men and women should be supported in selecting partners of their choice suiting each other's
temperament.
The presumption that love is blind and hence a young girl or boy will just pick up for a husband or
wife, the first boy or girl they come across when they are grown up is not justified. We cannot say
withcertaintythatayoungboyorgirlwillnottakeallaspectsintoconsiderationbeforeembarkingon
aloveaffair.TheyarenotRomeoandJulietofourBollywoodvarietywhoconverttheirfirstloveaffair
into a marriage. Now we have the concept of dating gaining currency in which a young man gets
engagedtohisgirlfriendonlywhenhehasfullyunderstoodherandthesameisthecasewithyoung
girlswhonowfeelmoreconfidenttospeaktheirmindinmatrimonialmatters.Duringtheircourtship,
theygetenoughopportunitytostudyeachotherandcaneasilybreakofftherelationshipifeitherside
isnotfoundtobeasexpected.
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Love marriage may have its defects as well, but we must admit that it has come to stay. Today
educationalfacilitieshavespreadandareeasilyandequallyavailabletogirls,too.Besides,thereare
greateremploymentopportunitiesforgirlsthaninthepast.Thesetogetherensurethatthereismore
intermingling of members of the opposite sex and the parental influence is diminishing. Therefore,
boysandgirlsaregettingmorefreeinthechoiceoftheirspouses.Inthesecircumstances,itwould
bebetterfortheelderstotakeiteasyandnottocomeinthewayoftheirchildren'shappiness.Yes,
of course, they can still play the role of marriage counsellers than that of matchmakers. Young
people,ontheirpart,woulddowellgenerallytorespectthewishesoftheirelderswhiledecidingtogo
steadywiththeirboyorgirlfriend.
Love is the main factor that binds two individuals. Saints and poets alike have praised it. Therefore
love marriages have more chances of success because there is premarital understanding between
the wouldbe couples. More often, unpleasant consequences arise only when love is obstructed or
the period of courtship is very short. If love is given way to and the latter is taken care of, love
marriagessucceedandnothingelse.
InFavourOfArrangedMarriages:
Themuchtalkedofunderstandinginlovemarriagesisnotsoeasytohavewhenthetwomeetforthe
first time because love takes place at first sight and not after due deliberation. Moreover, love
marriagesmainlyresultindivorceorarethecauseofquarrelswithparentsandthusunpleasantness
in relationships. As against them, arranged marriages are based on more solid foundations. Here,
experienced people have their way and they naturally choose a partner who is sure to prove more
faithful,devoted,matureandwithpredictable.
Parents are more rational, mature and experienced to deal with such matters and they are always
capable of selecting suitable life partners for their children. Loves being blind, young people usually
do not give a thought to the suitability and compability of their love. They generally lack sound
judgementandarecarriedawaybypassion.
Inarrangedmarriages,boysandgirlsareweighedintheirtotality.Theirfamilybackground,character,
temperament,compability,allaretakenintoconsideration,formarriageissupposedtobeaunionof
two families and not just two individuals. Naturally, girls coming from families which cherish
harmonious relationships are more likely to make better wives than those coming from broken
homes.Thelattermayhavetheirownpsychologicalproblems.
AllthisnewfoundloveforlovemarriagesisbecauseoftheinfluenceofWesternfilmsandcultureon
our life. Whether love or arranged one, marriage is a gamble either way. Even much trumpeted love
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marriageshavebeenseentobefounderingontherockofreality.Hadn'tourfathers,grandfathersand
theirforefathersallenjoyedarrangedmarriages?Isourcultureorsocietyanytheworseforit?Ifwe
compare both love and arranged marriages we find that chances of success in the latter are much
more for they are finalized after due consideration of various aspects of a happy and successful
marriedlife.
Conclusion:
Whatisimportantinmarriageislove,whetheritdevelopsbeforeorafterthemarriage.
IsScienceacurseoraboon?
ScienceIsaCurse:
Scientific inventions in the field of military technology and hardware have brought about mass
destruction.Previously, only armies would fight on the front and even unarmed or sleeping soldiers
were not killed, not to speak of civilians. But today, chemical, biological and nuclear weapons, as
also missiles and aircrafts, have extended the area of conflict right into the heart of the opposing
countries. The entire industrial civilization infrastructure can destroyed in a fraction of a second.
Remember the savagery of World War II when Hiroshima and Nagasaki were completely wiped out,
its citizens physically maimed and mentally deformed? Also remember what happened in Vietnam,
IraqandAfghanistan?
Can we ever forget the avoidable destruction of human lives caused by leakage in the Chernobyl
nuclearplantintheformerUSSRandbymethylisocynate(MIC)gasleakageinBhopal(India)afew
yearsback?Aren'tthousandsofpeopledyinginroad,railandairaccidentstoday,mostlybecauseof
humanfailureinanticipatingdisastersordeliberatesabotagebyterrorists?
Those who regard science as a boon would say the industrialization and automation have made
production on a mass scale possible and less strenuous, but they fail to realize that it has created
largescaleunemployment.Besides,theimmigrationofruralworkerstowardsindustrialcentersinthe
citieshasadverselyaffectedourjointfamilysystem,nottospeakofthepsychologicalproblemsand
diseasesithasspawnedinthecitybasedvillageworkerswhoareuprootedfromtheirmoorings.
Man in his quest for socalled science aided advancement and urbanization has destroyed huge
jungle tracts thus causing harm to ecological balance. Toxic gases and biologically non degradable
waste material from factories are causing air and water pollution, blaring loudspeakers create noise
pollution so much so that even out Supreme Court have to step in to order closure / shifting of
factories in and around Delhi and to fix permissible decibel limit for fire crackers during Dipawali
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celebrations.
Grantedthatsciencehasenabledustofightdiseasesmoreeffectivelyandleadamorehealthylife
but more and more deadly diseases, unknown to our forefathers, are affecting us today. Moreover
sideeffects of several medicines are more dangerous than the cure, and wrong medication /
diagnosis may render us permanently incapacitated. The recent report that Dolly, the artificially
createdsheepissufferingfromT.B.,isaneyeopenerforthedefendersofscience.
Today cheap, easy and mechanical transport, scooters, cars, buses, trains and aeroplanes, has
reduceddistancesforusbutthepollutionitcausescannotbeoverlooked.Besides,ourdependence
onthemhasmadeuslame.Notonlythis,otherluxuriesandcomfortsofmodernsciencehavemade
ussosoftthatwedonotwanttodophysicalworkandthussufferfromseveralailmentsandposture
diseases.
Science has taught us to conquer the moon and stars but failed to ennoble man himself. While
machines have been humanized, man has been mechanized and dehumanized. Starford Wingfield
hasrightlysaidinhismonumentalbook'HistoryofBritishCivilization',thetroublewithscienceisthat
ithasimprovedthecircumstancesofmanbutnotthemanhimself.Sowhatisthefunofimproving
theoutersurroundingsofmanifhehimselfisnotbettered?
ScienceIsaBoon:
Science is always a boon for mankind. Ever since man's appearance on the planet Earth he has
endeavouredtoconquertheforcesofnaturetoleadahappylife.Scienceandcivilizationareoneand
the same. A civilized nation is one which has achieved scientific progress. We call the African
nationsuncivilizedtheyarenotversedinthewaysofscience.
Fastmeansoftransportlikeaeroplanes,andtrainshavemadetheworldaglobalvillage.Telephone,
TV and satellite communications, as also, Internet, have made it possible to get the latest
informationfromanywhereintheworldinnotime.Thishashelpedinthespreadofeducationthrough
satellites and TV networks. Satellite photography has enabled us to explore new areas of mineral
depositsandearlywarningsfromsatellitepicturesofanimpendingcyclonemakeitpossibletotake
countermeasures.
Science has given us new medicines to fight diseases and increase the span of life. Radiological
progress,ECG,CTScan,MRI,etc.helpusindetectinganddiagnosingsevereailments.Transplant
surgery and microsurgery have shown hope for the hopeless. Now the human genome project has
succeededinmappinggenesofthehumanbodywhichholdsthehopeofidentifyingculpritgenesfor
man'sdiseasesandreplacingthem.
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Fromcradletogravemanhavetastedthefruitsofscience:aCaesarianoperationbringshimintothe
world,anelectriccrematoriumdisposeshimoffandinbetweenhiselectriclightsandfans,washing
machines,fridgesandothergadgetsensurethathelivesacomfortablelife.
Whileourforefathershadtolivealifefullofhardships,we,becauseofscienceleadaluxuriousand
comfortable life. Even the poor can avail of fast transport, bioengineered food, a variety of modern
entertainmentandthelike.Testtubebabieshavelongbecomeadreamcometruefortheissueless
couples. Deadly diseases like cancer and AIDS are going to be completely controlled in the future.
DifferentvaccineshavealreadybeendevelopedforeradicationofHepatitisB,Smallpox,Polio,etc.
Agriculture and farming have been revolutionized by science. Big dams to channelise water and
distribute it to the desert have turned arid areas into greenery. Isotopes have helped improve the
quality of seeds, which not only increased food production but also caused resistance to plant
disease.Crossbreedingofanimalsandpoultrytoohasincreasedyield.Biotechnologyhasmadeus
selfsufficient,evensurplus,infoodproduction.
Oureducationsystemhasbeenrevolutionizedwiththehelpofscienceandtechnology.Gonearethe
days of yore when man could rest contented with learning of only humanities teaching of science
andtechnologyhasopenednewvistasbeforehim.Hehasmorejobopportunities.Notonlythis,heis
moreandmoreincommandovertheforcesofnatureandwiththeaidofscienceandtechnologyhe
is using his resources for mankind. With great strides in paper and printing technology and the
knowledge explosion in general, even an average person is able to get the needed information and
canexercisehisrightofchoiceinourdemocraticpolity.
Electronics and computers have changed our thinking and living radically, computerized machinery
turns out products much faster and of better quality. Computers have replaced manual labour with
betterperformanceandelectronicshasmadeitpossibleforthehandicappedtoleadanormallife.
Itmightsoundironicbutitisafactthatbecauseofthermonuclearweaponswithcolossaldestructive
power in their armoury, the two superpowers, the US and the erstwhile USSR, could not go to war
fearingMAD(MutualAssuredDestruction)andlivedwithententeduringthecoldwarera.Eventoday,
post December 13 attack on our Parliament and not withstanding warning of using nuclear power,
bothIndiaandPakistanaredesistingfromcarryingouttheirthreatbecauseofthenuclearpressure.
Conclusion:
Sustainable development will allow us to benefit from science, yet help pass the planet to the next
generationinthesameshapethatweinheriteditin.
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Seniority,NotMerit,MustBeTheCriterionForPromotions
InFavourOfSeniority:
Entryinajobcanbeonmerit,forthatisanobjectivecriterionforastart,butonceapersonjoinsan
office, his actual experience alone must count in allowing his promotions. This experience enables
him to gain true knowledge of the practical working of his office. We cannot deny the fact that
seniority makes a man proportionately experienced while mere merit takes into consideration only
bookishknowledge.
Bymeritwegenerallymeansecuringhighmarksinwrittenexaminationsandintelligentlyconvincing
theexaminerortheinterviewer.Butthefactisthatevendufferscansecurehighmarksbycramming
a few important answers and get through the interview by chance or recommendation. On the
contrary, only practical experience can give us the true knowledge of theory and practice of a
particularline.
From our own experience in India we find that our old system of hereditary practice of a particular
trade or profession enables young boys to gain much more experience than today's newly recruited
young men who are given higher position, salary and status. An ordinary mistry working under an
engineerknowsmoreabouttheintricaciesofamachinethanthemeritoriousengineer.Itwouldbein
the fitness of things, for us, therefore, to give higher ranks and salaries to the humble mistries and
make new recruits work under them as apprentices, so as to bring about quick industrial
development.
There being no absolute and infallible test for computing one's merit on the basis of an objective
criterion, the system of promotion by merit allows for subjective assessment by superiors and thus
leads to favoritism and corruption. On the contrary, seniority being quite obvious, promotions based
onitleavesnoscopeforcorruptionorfavoritism.
Wemustseetoitthatevenapeonafteranumberofyearsismadeajuniorofficer,thenaseniorand
eventually head of the department, provided, of course, he has gained sufficient knowledge through
experience. This system operates in some advanced western countries quite successfully for it
offersincentivetooldhands.
InFavourOfMerit:
Promotionsinofficesandfactoriesshouldbebasedonmeritalone,for,itseniorityweretobegiven
weightage in promoting one to higher posts , every Tom, Dick and Harry who has put in a specified
yearsofservicewouldstartclaimingpromotionsjustbecauseofhisdurationinservice.Canwegrant
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promotionstoapeonwhodustsbooksandcarriesfilesinalibrarywithoutevencaringtoreadtheir
contents? Can his seniority make him more able or capable? The fact is that only time applied in
useful purposes has educative value. In this respect, we have the shining example of Gangadhar
Yadav,agardenerinhisearly20'satIIM,Lucknow.Hesoinvolvedhimselfindoingsomeextrawork
in the office there, that in the year 2000 a visiting Vice President of a reputed multinational got
impressedwithhimandofferedhimthejobofSalesExecutive!
Thegreatestprogressinnationsoftheworldhasbeenachievedwherepromotionsandhonourshave
gone to the meritorious alone. Here we have the most spectacular case of China and the former
Soviet Union. In China, they followed Confucian teachings since ancient times and recruited their
governmentofficersaccordinglyonthebasisofacompetition.TodayweknowwhereChinastands!
In the case of the Soviet Union too, their greatest progress in science and technology was made
possible by encouragement given to merit. That is why they could put first Sputnik in the orbit and
buildahugemilitaryindustrialcomplex.Anordinaryfactoryworkercouldhopetobecomeamanager
oneday.
Granted that people with seniority are sometimes more knowledgeable than new recruits who come
onthebasisofexaminationsandcompetitionsbuttheyareexceptions.Majorityofthemdonotmake
anyseriousattempttoknoworlearnmoreanddobetter.However,thefewwhoimprovethemselves
dogetanopportunityforpromotions,onthebasisofbothmeritandseniority.
The requirements of the present day make old people outdated, because of rapid technological
advancement in factories and new work culture. Therefore, if merit alone is taken into consideration
while promoting, the knowledge of the latest devices and design can be meaningfully tested in a
candidatewhokeepshimselfabreastofthem.
We now witness worldwide skill upgrading, computerization, government downsizing, more
mechanizationandautomation.Whatdoesitindicate?Onlythatwearemovingtowardsmeritocracy
a kind of government where all jobs is available on the basis of merit and academic qualifications
alone. In such a situation, seniority is bound to be left irrelevant and only merit as proved through
technicalandpracticalknowledgewillcount.
Conclusion:
Loyalty and Genius both need to be rewarded. Policy needs to ensure that there are exceptions for the
career paths of exceptional people, without making so many exceptions that it gets converted into a
rule.
AreReservationsInJobsJustified?
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No,TheyAren't:
The very idea of providing reservations to any segment of the population is based on negatives. It
allowsforpreferentialtreatmentwithoutathoughtbeinggiventothecaliberoreligibilityaspect.Just
about any individual from the reserved castes scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and backward
castescangetaGovernmentjoboradmissioninaneducationalinstitutiononamuchlowereligibility
criterion for percentage of marks and a higher age. This lowering of standard breeds inefficiency,
discourages the really meritorious and negates the very concept of quality of opportunity. 49.5
percentreservationmeansthathalftheadministrativemachineryhasinbuiltinefficiency,whileArticle
335 of our Constitution lays down that reservation should be consistent with the maintenance of
efficiencyofadministration.
Byrejectingpeopleofhighercompetencefromgeneralcategoryandacceptingthereservedcategory
with lower competence, the reservation policy acts as a disincentive to the meritorious and more
capable.Thusinhibitshealthygrowthordevelopmentofanindividual.Suchbrilliantstudents,victims
of unfair favouritism of our reservation policy, get frustrated and leave for foreign countries which
favour merit alone. This braindrain adversely affects the intellectual capability of our country. Not
only this, the system of reservation, says Justice Chinnappa Reddy, has in many cases
paradoxicallygeneratedaspiritofselfdenigrationeachcommunityofcastecompetingtobemore
backwardthanothers.
Private enterprises, being interested in efficiency alone, do not follow the retrograde policy of
reservation. Their sole criterion of selecting people is merit and ability to deliver the goods. This is
whytheyaredoingextremelywell.But,oflate,demandsforintroducingreservationsinprivatesector
has been raised in some influential quarters.Should this come about, God save whatever efficiency
westillhaveinatleastafewsegmentsofouradministrationandeconomy.
It is a shame that in this computer and space age we, by institutionalizing our reservation policy,
admitthatweareadecadentsocietybasedoncaste.Whatimagedoesitconveyintheinternational
field? Can casteism be done away with by having caste based reservations? Should we not follow
economiccriterioninsteadsothatonlyafewfamiliesdonotbenefitperpetuallybythisunfairpolicy?
The criterion of creamy layer is patently humbug, for it is so applied that even those with sufficient
means and standing in society succeed in getting the benefit of reservation. All this breeds
discontent and occasions social unrest. Therefore, the sooner we do away with reservations the
betterforthenation.
Reservationsweresupposedtobeaninterimarrangementfor10yearsasperourconstitutionsothat
thelowcastepeoplecouldcomeupsocially.Butencouragedbyourshortsightedpoliticianswiththeir
sights fixed on this sizeable votebank, its beneficiaries have formed it into a habit to claim
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reservation as a matter of right. Instead of striving hard to excel, they seek the shortcut of
reservationsandthevestedpoliticalinterestsperpetuateit.Thisviciouscirclecanbebrokenbythe
Government by having a firm cutoff year for reservations and spreading education among the
depressedclassesonaprioritybasis.Butcanwedosobyassigninglowprioritytoeducationwitha
mere4percentbudgetallocationforit?
Instead of facilitating spatial growth of education and development among the depressed classes,
reservationshavespawnedanewelitistgroupamere5percentamongthem,whichhascorneredall
thebenefitsmeantfor22.5percent.Thesameisgoingtobethefateofthemostbackwardsamong
backwardclasses.
A further reservation of 27 percent to the other backward classes has aggravated the employment
problem and has formed caste animosities and hatred. This retrograde step is not going to do any
good to the nation. In the name of social justice, an injustice of the worst type is being perpetrated
because of the accident of birth in a higher caste.Moreover, the argument that since the new
reservedcategorieshavesufferedinjusticethroughcenturiesatthehandsofuppercastepeople,the
latter should atone for that, is beyond comprehension. How could a young boy or girl be held
responsible and guilty for an alleged crime supposed to have been committed by his or her
forefathers?Twowrongsdonotmakeoneright?
Theonlyhopeofthechildrenofordinaryfamiliesforabetterfutureisthrougheducationandopento
allcompetitiveexamination.Thishasbeenshatteredbytheadditional27percentjobquotaforother
Backward Class (BC) candidates following acceptance of the Mandal Commission Report. That is
why they resorted to agitation and even selfimmolation, but to no avail. It has further fractured our
casteridden society. The author of the Mandal Commission Report himself admits that the system
followedbytheCommissionincompilingthelistisunscientific.
It is really damaging to the nation as a whole that instead of tackling our population problem largely
due to the illiterate, backward and superstitious people of backward classes, we give them the
lollipop of reservations! In spite of their wretchedness and poverty they produce more children and
makethelifeoftheseinnocentsmoremiserablethantheirs.Therefore,ifatallreservationsaretobe
giventheymustbelinkedwithadoptionoffamilyplanningmethods.Thiswillprovetobeaneffective
deterrentagainstpopulationexplosionandwillalsobenefittheseclassesthemselves.
Yes,TheyAre:
The obnoxious caste system might have served some purpose when it originated centuries ago but
nowitisahindrancetooursocialprogress.Theclaimoftheapologistsofcastesystemthatcaste
waschangeableaccordingtomeritandcompetenceoftheindividualandwasnotstrictlyhereditaryis
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disapproved by the story of Karna in the Mahabharat who inspite of being equal to or even more in
valour, skill, warfare and charity than the Kshatriyas was made to suffer humiliation for being a Sut
Putra(SonofaShudra)tillhisdeath.AgainwehavethestoryofEklavya,alowborn.Dronacharya,
theteacherofArjun,thegreatarcheroftheepicMahabharat,demandedhisthumbasGurudakshina
(Fee), even though he had refused to teach him archery fearing that he might surpass. Thus
centuries of oppression and untouchability cannot be undone in just a few years of honest and
sincereefforts.Therefore,themakersofourConstitutionstipulatedreservationforscheduledcastes
andtribesforaperiodoftenyearsbutithadtobeextendedagainandagainbecausetheycouldnot
come up in such a short time. It is only fair and just to reserve some seats for these deprived and
oppressed people, who could not enter even temples and educational institutions. The question of
any inefficiency creeping in or harm or injustice being done to others does not arise because one,
these classes too must fulfill certain basic minimum educational or technical qualification, and, too,
somestateslikeTamilNadu,AndhraPradeshandKarnatakahaveover50percentreservationsyet
theirefficiencyissecondtonone.Again,nohueandcryofloweringefficiencyorstandardsisraised
when a son of a rich father gets admission in a technical or professional course in spite of lower
marks.Thenwhythesedoublestandards?
Our constitution lays down equality among equals and not among un equals. Through the policy of
reservation, our depressed and backward class people are sought to be brought to the status of
equality with others. It is really shameful for a modern civilized society like ours that even after 55
years of independence, a scheduled caste barat party is not allowed to go through a Rajput
dominated village near Agra, young lovers belonging to higher lower caste are hanged in village
panchayatsinbroaddaylightwithoutawhimperofprotest!Hence,reservationisanaffirmativeaction
tobringaboutsocioeconomicbettermentoftheseclassesandmust,therefore,continue.
Being a Welfare State, we owe it to the weaker sections to ensure their wellbeing through
governmental action.Their economic backwardness, poor state of education and social deprivation
are all due to our society which even at this late hour should not prevent their upliftment. It is
becauseofthisoppressive,humiliatingandtorturouscastesystemandresultantdeprivationthathas
led thousands of scheduled castes people (From Dr. Ambedkar to Ramraj now Uditraj) to get
converted en masse into other religions. Resort to such conversions as a means of escape from
castebasedoppressionisashameontheentiresociety.
IftheBrahminscanworkaspujarisandactasagentsofGodforallauspiciousoccasionslikebirths,
marriages,deaths, etc. as a birthright, why should the Hindu society not view some reservation for
backwardclasspeoplewithcharityandgenerosity.
Even now the total reservation is only 49.5 percent for about 76.5 per cent of the population while
over 50 per cent seats are available for about 23.5 per cent candidates of higher castes. Besides,
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true social justice can come with a price and reservations are the prices that are privileged classes
shouldbewillingtopaysothattheaccidentofbirthisnomoreusedagainsttheirlowbornbrethren.
MahatmaGandhioncesaid,Swarajformemeansfreedomforthemeanestforourcountrymen.Iam
not interested in freeing India merely from the English yoke. I am bent upon freeing India from any
yokewhatsoever.ItgoestoprovethatFatheroftheNationwouldensureindividualfreedomforone
andall.Butcansuchfreedombepossiblefortheexploitedandoppressedweakersections?
The depressed and backward class people cannot fare well in an open competition because of
centuries of suppression and deprivation, and, hence, they cannot develop themselves. In this
modern age of knowledge explosion through mass media, they may get alienated from the main
stream of our society. This can generate dangerous consequences for the nation as a whole.
Therefore,toavoidsuchaneventuality,weshouldacceptourdowntroddenbrethrenwithanopenarm
andgivethemahelpinghandinrealizingtheirpotential.Thiswayonlywecanachieveourcommon
destiny,fordidn'tourancientseersproclaimedSarveBhawantuSukhinahmaKashchidduhkhbhag
bhavet.(Letallbehappy,letnoonebemiserable).
Conclusion:
Inequalitieswillalwaysexist.Societywillalwaystrytosetrighttheseinequalitiesinsomeways.Policy
checkshereshouldbetoseeifthesolutionisworkinginthelongtermornot.
WhatformofDemocracyisbetterparliamentaryorpresidential?
Parliamentary:
IndiaadoptedtheParliamentaryformofdemocracyaftergettingIndependencein1947becauseIndia
hadbeenfamiliarwithitsworkingduringthedaysoftheBritishrule.Sincethen13generalelections
havebeenheldtotheLokSabhaonthebasisofuniversaladultfranchise,andbarringafewviolent
incidents during the polls, there has been peaceful transition of authority from one political party to
the other. Moreover, while in a parliamentary democracy, the Executive is responsible to the
legislatureandtherefore,theoppositionalwayskeepsitalert.Foritalwayslivesintheshadowofa
comingdefeat.AsLaskipointsout,inaPresidentialdemocracythePresidentdoesnothavetofear
any opposition because he is not responsible to the legislature. It can make him autocratic. Hence
Esmeincallsthesystemautocratic,irresponsibleanddangerous.So,woulditbeadvisableforusto
handover the destiny of our vast country with abundant resources and population to the whims and
capricesofadictatorialPresident?
SincethemajoritypartyoramajoritycoalitionofseveralpartiescomestopowerinaParliamentary
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democracy, there is bound to be cooperation and harmony between the Executive and the
Legislature.Itensureseasyimplementationofplansandpoliciesoftherulingpartyforitcanhaveits
ownway,nomatterwhattheoppositionpartiesintheLokSabhasay.InthePresidentialform,onthe
contrary, the system of separation of powers between the Executive and Legislature often leads to
conflict:moreso,ifthesetwowingsofthegovernmentarecontrolledbydifferentparties.Thisleads
todelay,confusionandprocrastination.Therefore,itisadvisableforustocontinuewiththepresent
systemwhichhasunityofresponsibility,directionandpower.
It is always possible to remove a failed Prime Minister and replace him with a new competent and
acceptable individual as per the wishes of the people. This happened in the United Kingdom during
World War II when Chamberlain proved to be a timid Prime Minister and Churchill replaced him
withoutanycommutationtakingplace.ButaPresidentcannotbethusremovedbeforetheexpiryof
his tenure except by an extremely difficult process of Impeachment. Thus this system being rigid
does not mould itself easily to abusing circumstances. Therefore, there is no point in having a
Presidentialdemocracywhereevenapersonanongratahastobetoleratedfortheremainingtenure
ofhisoffice.
BrycemaintainsthattheParliamentaryformofGovernmentsecuresswiftnessindecisionandvigor
in action because cabinet can easily get the measures it deems essential passed through the
Legislature. In the Presidential form, inordinate delay is caused in arriving at decisions, for the
Legislatureistobeconvincedofmajorpolicydecisions.
Powercorrupts,AbsolutepowercorruptsabsolutelysaysLordActon.Thisappliestothepositionof
a President vested with the entire administration and absolute power who might on his own take
drasticactionathomeandinforeignpolicyandbringaboutgreatsufferingtothepeople.Weshould
therefore, maintain the status quo of Parliamentary Government, notwithstanding its shortcomings
andfaults,whichhasseveralheadstosolvenationalproblemsintheformofthecabinet.
Parliamentary democracy suits us because here persons fit to be members of the Executive make
knowntheirsagacity,politicalacumen,graspandcommonsense,andthePrimeministerwillalways
be one who has undergone a long and strenuous period of political apprenticeship. This state of
affairsdoesnotobtaininaPresidentialdemocracyintheUnitedStatesanypersonwithoutadequate
politicalexperiencecanhopetobecomethePresident.Heveryoftencomesfromobscurityandgoes
intoobscurityagainafterhistermofofficeisoverandheis'aleapinthedark.'
If the ruling party fails to deliver and carry the majority with it in a Parliamentary democracy, the
opposition more than merely exposing its drawbacks, loopholes and blunders, tries to step into his
shoeswithoutnecessarilyhaving to force the ritual of a fresh election. A fixed tenure of office for a
PresidentdoesnotmakethispossibleinaPresidentialdemocracy.
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India has been the most stable nation of Afro Asia. The main factor contributing to our stability has
beentheholdingofperiodicgeneralelections.Governmentseekstocorrespondtothedesiresofthe
electorate.MembersoftheLegislaturewhorepresentprevailingtendenciesandopinionofthenation
apprisethecabinetofthem.Cabinetortherulingpartycanignoreorbrushasidethemonlyatitsown
peril.Presidentialdemocracy,ontheotherhand,hasnothingmuchtocareforashiftinpublicopinion
because the fixed term of office of the President makes him secure in office for the stipulated
numberofyears.Thismaymakehimunresponsivetothewishesofthepeopleandruleasadictator.
Presidential:
The time has come for us to switch over to the government of experts, as the Presidential
government is called instead of the government of amateurs or the Parliamentary democracy. The
Presidentisauthorizedtoappointthemembersofhiscabinetirrespectiveofpartyaffiliation.Hecan
even obtain the services of nonparty experts. A Prime Minister, on the other hand, is bound to
appointonlymembersofhispartyorofpartiessupportinghim.Andhehastotakeintoconsideration
their caste, region, religion and their following, notwithstanding their otherwise unsuitability for the
post. In India, we have had, in the past and have even today, several persons as ministers not
becauseoftheirintrinsicqualitybutduetoparochialconsiderations.
Presidential system ensures that the President has a national image. He does not belong to this or
thatgrouporfactionintheLegislature.Sinceheiselectedforafixedtermofoffice,stabilityisinbuilt
in this form of government because he is not dependant on the vagaries of the Legislature. In
Parliamentary Government, on the other hand, the Prime Minister has to please both his party men
and the opposition to continue in office. The instability of this form of government becomes more
obviouswhenasinglepartydoesnotholdamajorityintheLegislatureandacoalitiongovernmentis
formed,aswasthecaseinFrancepriortotheinaugurationofthe5threpublic,andinIndiaduring the
Janata Party rule (1977 80), National Front Governments in 198991 and in 199698. The BJP led
coalition government had to resign in just 13 days and 13 months respectively and the NDA
Governmenthadtoputupwiththetantrumsofthisorthatcoalitionpartner.
In a Presidential democracy, the Legislature is less likely to be dominated by party spirit and the
individual members can vote independently on the issues presented to them, as the fate of the
governmentdoesnotdependonthem.Thisphenomenonissomuchinevidenceintheclassiccase
ofUnitedStatesthatthetwomainpartiestheRepublicanandtheDemocraticarecalled'samewine
in different bottles'. Contrary to this the Parliamentary system intensifies the spirit of party and
keepsitalwaysontheboilsaysLordBryce.Eveniftherearenoimportant issues of policy before
thenation,therearealwaystheofficestobefought,foronepartyholdsthem,theotherdesiresthem
and the conflict is unending for immediately after defeat, the beaten party begins its campaign to
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dislodge the victors. While the opposition criticizes Government policy regardless of its merits, the
ruling party avoids putting unpopular measure, however important they may be, and resorts to
populismignoringtheneedofthenation.Don'twewitnessthishappeninghereinIndia?Should,then,
westillcontinuewiththisirresponsiblestateofaffairs?
The fusion of executive and legislative functions in a parliamentary democracy like ours has made
thecabinetusurpthefunctionsofparliament,fortheUnionLegislatureisnowinsessionforabout3
monthsinoneyearwhileduringPt.JawaharlalNehru'stimeitusedtobeinsessionformorethan4
months.Moreover,rulebyordinancetendstobypasstheauthorityofParliament.InthePresidential
system,ontheotherhand,thereisseparationoftheExecutiveandtheLegislature.Hence,nowing
canusurpthepowersoftheother.Thisensuresthatnolegislationisenactedinhasteorwithout,in
depthdeliberation.
In a presidential democracy, a continuous and consistent home and foreign policy can be followed
because the chief executive enjoys security of tenure and cannot be easily removed. This fact is
establishedbytheRooseveltianerainUSA.Contrarytothis,inaparliamentarydemocracy,thereis
no continuity or consistency of policies because of instability of Government. A new cabinet may
evenreversethepolicyfollowedbyitspredecessor.
Inapresidentialsystem,bureaucraticappointmentsaremadebythepresident,andinsomecases,
withtheapprovalofthelegislature.Theyareresponsiblefortheiractsofomissionandcommission.
In the Parliamentary Government, on the other hand, there is a fixed tenure for bureaucrats who
thrive under the cloak of ministerial responsibility. In India, we witness an over bureaucratization of
the entire administration, which causes redtape and avoidable delay. Bureaucracy even hijacks the
wellmeantpoliciesofthegovernment.
With a multiplicity of political parties spawned due to personality clash of egoistic leaders and
helplessness of even anti defection law, floorcrossing and horsetrading have become the norm in
our parliamentary practices. The politicianbureaucratbusinessmancriminal nexus has debased the
parliamentaryinstitution,interferedwiththejudiciary,createdlawandorderproblemsandencouraged
terrorismandseparationonawiderscale.Evenviolenceinsidethelegislaturehasboughttheminto
disrepute.Insteadofbeingagovernmentbydiscussion,parliamentarydemocracyhasdescendedto
thelowlevelofpandemoniumandbedlaminthehousesofthelegislature.
Low calibre, casteist and communal elements, able to exploit the illiterate and poor masses a
considerable vote bank, get elected to the legislatures. Thus with their immense bargaining power
theyareabletogetministerialberths?Theresult?JumbocabinetsunmanageableinStateslikeU.P
and Bihar where ministers have practically no work to do in some cases but are a burden on the
Exchequer.Thuswearecaughtinaviciouscircleofallrounddeterioration.Itis,therefore,hightime
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that we abandon the Parliamentary system and adopt the Presidential democracy where ministerial
posts need not be given to elected representatives, the candidate is more important than the party
and,hence,corruption,inefficiency,vestedinterestsandparalyzinginterferencefrom politicians can
beeasilyremoved.
Conclusion:
Theformofgovernmentisspecifictoaculturalandsocialcontext.Aspectsthataidefficientgovernment
needtobereinforced,irrespectiveoftheformofgovernment.
(http://hitbullseye.com/)
(http://www.cybersolutionindia.com/)
2012|LegalNotice()|Terms()
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