IGNOU MEDS-043 Solved Question Paper PDF Download

IGNOU MEDS-043 Previous Year Solved Question Paper in Hindi

IGNOU MEDS-043 Previous Year Solved Question Paper in English

Q1. What is the need for sustainable development ? What are the important measures for the promotion of sustainable development ?

Ans. Sustainable Development is defined as “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs,” as stated by the Brundtland Commission. It emphasizes establishing a balance between the three core pillars of development: environmental, social, and economic . Need for Sustainable Development: The need for sustainable development has become critically important in the contemporary world for the following reasons:

• Environmental Degradation: Unchecked industrialization and urbanization have led to severe environmental problems such as pollution, climate change, deforestation, and resource depletion.
• Over-exploitation of Resources: Natural resources like water, minerals, and fossil fuels are being depleted at an alarming rate, threatening their availability for future generations.
• Social Inequity: The benefits of development have not been distributed evenly, leading to an increase in poverty, health issues, and social unrest among different sections of society.
• Inter-generational Equity: It is our moral responsibility to leave a healthy and resource-rich planet for future generations.

Important Measures for the Promotion of Sustainable Development:

Promoting sustainable development requires a multi-faceted approach that includes the following measures:

• Use of Renewable Energy: Adopting clean energy sources like solar, wind, and hydro power, and reducing dependency on fossil fuels.
• Circular Economy: Moving away from the ‘use and throw’ culture to a system that promotes the reuse, repair, and recycling of products.
• Green Urban Planning: Developing compact cities, promoting public transportation, preserving green belts, and encouraging mixed-use land development.
• Sustainable Agriculture: Protecting soil and water resources by adopting organic farming and water-conservation techniques.
• Policy and Legislation: Governments enacting strict environmental laws, imposing green taxes on pollution, and implementing policies that incentivize sustainable practices.
• Public Awareness and Participation: Educating citizens about the importance of sustainable development and ensuring their participation in the decision-making process.

In essence, sustainable development is not just an option but an imperative to secure the future of our planet and humanity.

Q2. List out and discuss briefly the various urban development programmes initiated by Government of India since independence.

Ans. Since independence, the Government of India has launched numerous programmes to address the challenges of urbanization and improve the quality of urban life. These programmes can be broadly categorized into three phases: First Phase (1950s – 1970s): Foundational and Planned Development In this phase, the government’s focus was on building new cities and creating Master Plans for major cities.

• Creation of New Industrial Towns: Planned cities like Chandigarh, Bhilai, Rourkela, and Durgapur were developed to promote industrialization.
• Master Plans: To ensure the systematic development of major cities like Delhi, Master Plans were prepared to regulate land use.
• Refugee Rehabilitation: Following the partition, housing and basic amenities were provided in urban areas to settle refugees.

Second Phase (1970s – 1990s): Focus on Social Concerns and Decentralization

In this phase, the government’s attention shifted towards the problems of slums and small and medium towns.

• Integrated Development of Small and Medium Towns (IDSMT): To reduce the population pressure on large cities by improving infrastructure in smaller towns.
• Urban Basic Services for the Poor (UBSP): To provide basic services like health, education, and sanitation in urban poor settlements.
• 74th Constitutional Amendment Act (1992): A landmark step that gave constitutional status to Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) and granted them more powers and responsibilities for development.

Third Phase (2000s – Present): Mission-based and Technology-driven Development

This phase is characterized by large-scale, mission-mode programmes and the use of technology.

• Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM): A comprehensive programme to improve infrastructure and services in major Indian cities.
• Smart Cities Mission (SCM): To develop selected cities by providing better infrastructure, a clean environment, and a higher quality of life through ‘smart’ solutions.
• AMRUT (Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation): Aims to ensure basic urban infrastructure like water supply and sewerage in 500 cities.
• Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Urban (PMAY-U): To provide affordable housing to the urban poor with the goal of ‘Housing for All’.
• Swachh Bharat Mission – Urban (SBM-U): Focused on making cities clean, eliminating open defecation, and improving solid waste management.

Q3. What is fiscal decentralization ? Explain different criteria of fiscal devaluation.

Ans. Fiscal Decentralization is the process of transferring fiscal powers and responsibilities from a central government to sub-national levels of government, such as state governments and local bodies (municipalities and panchayats). It is a crucial component of broader democratic decentralization, which also includes political and administrative decentralization. Its primary goal is to enhance efficiency, accountability, and responsiveness in the delivery of public services. Fiscal decentralization typically involves three components:

1. Expenditure Assignment: Devolving the responsibility for providing specific public services (e.g., primary health, sanitation, local roads) to local governments.
2. Revenue Assignment: Empowering local governments to raise their own revenues through taxes (like property tax) and user fees to finance their expenditures.
3. Intergovernmental Fiscal Transfers: Providing financial support from central and state governments to local bodies in the form of grants and loans.

Different Criteria for Fiscal Devolution/Transfer:

In India, bodies like the Finance Commission use specific criteria to determine the transfer of funds from the Centre to states, and State Finance Commissions do so from states to local bodies. The term ‘fiscal devaluation’ in the question is likely a typo for

‘fiscal devolution’

or

‘fiscal transfer’

. The key criteria used for this are:

• Population: This is one of the most significant criteria, as a larger population implies a greater need for public services.
• Area: States or bodies with a larger geographical area incur higher costs for infrastructure maintenance and service delivery.
• Income Distance: This measures the gap between a state’s per capita income and that of the state with the highest per capita income. It aims to promote fiscal equity by giving more funds to lower-income states.
• Fiscal Capacity and Discipline: This criterion is used to reward states that demonstrate better performance in tax collection and maintain fiscal discipline.
• Forest and Ecology: To compensate states for the revenue loss they incur due to the conservation of large forest areas within their territory.
• Demographic Performance: Rewarding states that perform well in achieving demographic goals, such as population control (lower fertility rates).

These criteria ensure that the distribution of financial resources is both equitable and rational.

Q4. Discuss the disaster management strategy in the context of plain and riverine area.

Ans. Plain and riverine areas are primarily vulnerable to hydro-meteorological disasters, mainly floods, riverbank erosion, and sometimes cyclones (in coastal plains) and earthquakes. An effective disaster management strategy for these areas must be comprehensive, covering all phases of the disaster cycle: mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery. Disaster Management Strategy: 1. Mitigation (Reducing the Risk): The goal is to minimize the impact of a disaster before it occurs.

• Structural Measures:
  • Construction of embankments and levees along river banks.
  • Building reservoirs and check dams to store excess water.
  • Channel improvement and dredging to enhance river flow capacity.
• Non-structural Measures:
  • Floodplain Zoning: Restricting construction activities in high-risk areas along the river.
  • Enforcing Building Codes to make houses and structures flood-resistant.
  • Promoting afforestation in river catchment areas to reduce soil erosion and increase water absorption.

2. Preparedness (Getting Ready for a Disaster):

The objective is to build the capacity to face a disaster.

• Early Warning System (EWS): Rapidly disseminating information from meteorological departments and river monitoring stations to the public.
• Evacuation Plan: Pre-identifying safe locations and access routes, and conducting regular mock drills.
• Community Participation: Forming and training local disaster management teams.
• Stockpiling: Storing emergency supplies of food, drinking water, medicines, and other essential items.

3. Response (Immediate Action During a Disaster):

The aim is to save lives and protect property.

• Search and Rescue (SAR) Operations: Deploying teams like the NDRF and SDRF to rescue trapped individuals.
• Setting up Relief Camps: Providing temporary shelter, food, and medical facilities for displaced people.
• Immediate Medical Aid: Treating the injured and preventing the outbreak of diseases.

4. Recovery and Reconstruction (After the Disaster):

The goal is to restore normalcy and build back better for the future.

• Damage Assessment: Conducting a proper assessment of the losses caused by the disaster.
• Livelihood Restoration: Assisting farmers and other affected people in restarting their livelihoods.
• “Build Back Better” Principle: Reconstructing damaged infrastructure (roads, bridges, houses) in a way that makes them more resilient to future disasters.
• Psycho-social Support: Helping affected people recover from the mental trauma of the disaster.

Q5. Write short notes on any two of the following : 10+10

Ans. (a) Features of Urbanization Urbanization is the process of population shift from rural to urban areas, leading to the growth in size and population density of urban centers. It is a global phenomenon with the following key features:

• High Population Density: Cities have a much higher concentration of people per square kilometer compared to rural areas.
• Predominance of Non-agricultural Occupations: The urban economy is primarily based on industry, trade, and the service sector, with a negligible role for agriculture.
• Social and Cultural Heterogeneity: Cities are a melting pot of people from different religions, castes, cultures, and backgrounds, creating a heterogeneous society.
• Better Infrastructure and Services: Urban areas generally offer better access to education, healthcare, transportation, and entertainment facilities.
• Environmental Challenges: Rapid urbanization often leads to problems like pollution, traffic congestion, housing shortages, and waste management issues.
• Centers of Economic Growth: Cities are hubs of innovation, entrepreneurship, and economic activity, contributing significantly to a country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
• Formal and Informal Sectors: The urban economy is characterized by the co-existence of both organized (formal) and unorganized (informal) sectors.

(b) Merits of Decentralized Planning

Decentralized planning is a process where the power of planning and decision-making is transferred from central authorities to local-level institutions (like panchayats and municipalities). It is also known as ‘bottom-up’ planning. Its major merits are as follows:

• Better Understanding of Local Needs: Local bodies understand their own problems and needs better, enabling them to formulate more relevant and effective plans.
• Promotes Public Participation: It provides an opportunity for common people to participate in the planning process, which increases their sense of ownership and support for the plans.
• Enhanced Accountability and Transparency: When decisions are made locally, officials are directly accountable to the public, which reduces corruption and increases transparency.
• Efficient Utilization of Resources: By using local knowledge, resources can be allocated and utilized more efficiently.
• Strengthens Democracy: It strengthens democracy at the grassroots level and encourages the development of local leadership.
• Equitable Development: It helps ensure that the benefits of development reach even the most remote and backward sections of society.

(c) Scope of Public Administration

Public Administration is concerned with the formulation and implementation of government policies. Its primary goal is to promote public interest and provide various services to citizens. Its scope has widened considerably over time and can be understood from two perspectives:

1. Narrow View (POSDCORB View): Propounded by Luther Gulick, this view limits public administration to the activities of the executive branch of the government. It includes seven elements:
   • P lanning
   • O rganizing
   • S taffing
   • D irecting
   • Co -ordinating
   • R eporting
   • B udgeting
2. Broader View (Modern View): In the modern view, the scope of public administration is much wider. It is not limited to implementation but also plays a significant role in policy formulation. It covers the following areas:
   • Management of Law and Order: Police and judicial administration.
   • Welfare Activities: Providing services like education, health, social security, and housing.
   • Development Administration: Planning and implementing schemes for economic and social development (e.g., infrastructure development, poverty alleviation).
   • Financial Administration: Preparing public budgets, collecting taxes, and managing public expenditure.
   • Regulatory Functions: Regulating various sectors of the economy and society (e.g., environment, banking).

   Today, in the era of liberalization and globalization, the role of public administration has shifted from being a ‘controller’ to a ‘facilitator’, working in partnership with the private sector and civil society.

Q6. What do you understand by Biodiversity ? Explain the roles of biodiversity in maintaining the biological equilibrium in our environment.

Ans. Biodiversity , a contraction of “biological diversity,” refers to the variety and variability of life on Earth. It encompasses diversity at three main levels:

1. Genetic Diversity: The variation in genes within a single species, such as the different breeds of dogs or the thousands of varieties of rice.
2. Species Diversity: The variety of different species (plants, animals, microorganisms) present in a particular area.
3. Ecosystem Diversity: The variety of different habitats, such as forests, grasslands, deserts, lakes, and coral reefs.

Role of Biodiversity in Maintaining Biological Equilibrium:

Biodiversity is fundamental to the health, stability, and balance of any ecosystem. It plays a crucial role in maintaining biological equilibrium in the following ways:

• Foundation of Ecosystem Services: Biodiversity provides us with numerous essential services, known as ‘ecosystem services’. These include:
  • Provisioning Services: Providing food, fresh water, wood, and medicines.
  • Regulating Services: Regulating climate, controlling floods and diseases, and purifying water. Pollination is also a critical regulating service.
  • Supporting Services: Processes like nutrient cycling, soil formation, and primary production, which are the basis for all other services.
• Ecosystem Stability and Resilience: An ecosystem with high species diversity is more stable and resilient in the face of environmental changes (like drought or disease). If one species is lost, its role can often be filled by another.
• Balance of the Food Web: Every species is an important link in the food web. The extinction of a single species can disrupt the entire food web, causing unpredictable effects on other species.
• Nutrient Recycling: Decomposers like microorganisms and fungi break down dead organic matter and return nutrients to the soil, making them available for plant growth. This process depends on biodiversity.
• Pollination and Seed Dispersal: Many plants depend on insects, birds, and bats for their reproduction. These pollinators are essential for the continuation of crops and natural vegetation.

In summary, biodiversity is not just a collection of species; it is a complex and interconnected web of life that makes our planet habitable and maintains biological equilibrium.

Q7. Explain the first and second phases of urban development policies in India.

Ans. Urban development policies in India have evolved significantly since independence, reflecting the country’s changing socio-economic priorities. They can be understood through two initial phases: First Phase (1947 – circa 1970s): The State-led and Physical Planning Phase Immediately after independence, India’s urban policy was largely driven by the broader vision of nation-building and industrial development. The policies of this phase were top-down and heavily reliant on the role of the state.

• Policy Driver: The policies were influenced by the immediate need for refugee rehabilitation after the partition and the Nehruvian vision of creating a modern, industrial nation.
• Key Approach: The approach was primarily focused on physical planning . This involved preparing land-use plans and Master Plans to develop cities in an orderly manner.
• Major Actions:
  • Creation of New Towns: The development of new, well-planned cities like Chandigarh (as a new capital) and Bhilai, Durgapur (as industrial towns) was a hallmark of this phase.
  • Concept of Master Plans: The first Master Plan for Delhi (1962) was created during this period, which became a model for other cities. Its aim was to control land use and give a systematic direction to city growth.
  • Institutional Framework: Town and Country Planning Organisations (TCPOs) were established at the central and state levels.
• Shortcomings: This approach often ignored the existing complexities of cities, especially the growth of slums and the informal economy. Master Plans were very rigid and difficult to implement fully.

Second Phase (circa 1970s – 1990s): The Shift to Social Concerns and Decentralization

By the 1970s, it became clear that the policies of the first phase were failing to address problems like urban poverty and housing shortages. This prompted a significant shift in policy.

• Policy Driver: This phase recognized the needs of the urban poor and the role of small and medium towns. The focus shifted from ‘development’ to ‘welfare’.
• Key Approach: The focus expanded from purely physical planning to include socio-economic concerns . The government began to consider a shift from the role of a ‘provider’ to that of an ‘enabler’.
• Major Actions:
  • Sites and Services Schemes: Instead of just providing ready-made houses to the poor, they were provided with small plots of land and basic services (like water, electricity) to build their homes at their own pace.
  • Slum Upgradation Programmes: Instead of demolishing slums, the emphasis shifted to improving basic facilities within them (e.g., paved lanes, toilets, water taps).
  • IDSMT Programme: The Integrated Development of Small and Medium Towns program was launched to reduce migration pressure on large cities.
  • 74th Constitutional Amendment Act (1992): The most significant achievement of this phase was this Act, which empowered Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) and laid the foundation for decentralized urban governance.

Thus, the second phase was an attempt to address the shortcomings of the first phase and adopt a more inclusive and realistic approach to urban development.

Q8. Discuss the areas of National Housing and Habitat Policy, 1998.

Ans. The National Housing and Habitat Policy, 1998 was a landmark policy for the housing sector in India. It proposed a fundamental shift in the government’s role and strategy for tackling the housing problem in the country. The central philosophy of this policy was to transform the government’s role from that of a ‘Provider’ to an ‘Enabler’ and ‘Facilitator’ . The key areas of focus of this policy were:

1. Change in Government’s Role: The policy explicitly stated that the government alone cannot undertake the massive task of building houses for all. Therefore, the government’s job would be to create a supportive environment in which the private sector, cooperatives, NGOs, and individuals could participate in housing construction.
2. Facilitating Access to Land: The policy recognized that the availability of land is one of the biggest constraints for housing. It suggested:
   • Amending or repealing the Urban Land (Ceiling & Regulation) Act, 1976 (ULCRA) to increase the supply of land in urban areas.
   • Simplifying and making land acquisition processes more transparent.
3. Promoting Housing Finance: The policy emphasized the creation of a robust and accessible housing finance system. It recommended strengthening the National Housing Bank (NHB), encouraging commercial banks to lend for housing, and making finance more accessible for low-income groups.
4. Removing Legal and Regulatory Bottlenecks: It advocated for the reform of outdated laws and regulations that hindered housing construction. This included:
   • Reforming Rent Control Acts to encourage the supply of rental housing.
   • Simplifying and making building bye-laws and planning standards more realistic.
5. Technology and Building Materials: The policy stressed the promotion of research, development, and use of cost-effective, environment-friendly, and energy-efficient building materials and technologies. The aim was to reduce the cost of construction and make it more sustainable.
6. Special Focus on the Poor and Vulnerable: The policy gave special attention to the housing needs of the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) and Low-Income Groups (LIG). This included prioritizing slum upgradation, low-cost housing, and sites-and-services schemes.
7. Integrated Approach to Habitat: This policy was not limited to just the ‘House’ but was based on a broader concept of ‘Habitat’. This meant that along with housing, physical infrastructure (clean water, sanitation, roads) and social infrastructure (schools, health centers) should also be provided.

In essence, the 1998 policy provided a new direction for making the housing sector in India more market-oriented and linking it with a holistic developmental approach.