List of 9 Essays for XAT Exam Preparation

List of 9 essays for XAT exam on 1. The causes and ramifications of hunger in Africa 2. India’s response to political crisis in Bangladesh 3. Importance of World Trade Organization 4. Right to life and personal liberty 5. ‘Strategic partnership’ between India and United State of America 6. How has the Taiwan issue influenced U.S.-China relations during the last one year? 7. Elaborate on India’s Nuclear Doctrine 8. Reasons for industrial sickness in India 9. On what grounds can a member be disqualified from either House of Parliament?

Essays topics for XAT

1. The causes and ramifications of hunger in Africa

Political instability, lack of democratic institutions and rise of military and dictatorial form of rule (not government) coupled with low level of economic and social development (primarily a legacy of colonial rule) can be numerated as the major causes for hunger in Africa.

Independence from colonial rule in the second half of 20th century saw the rise of individual dictators and consequent civil wars in most parts of Africa.

The division of boundaries according to the convenience of colonical powers led to power struggle between major tribal and ethnic groups in most of the African nations.

Power was grabbed by a few using undemocratic means which was to be held by force.

In the process, the common people were left unattended and lack of democratic rights made them vulnerable to poverty, unemployment, malnutrition illiteracy – all of which led to the creation of a vicious circle where hunger was the cause as well as effect of political instability and lack of good governance. Examples can be seen in Ethiopia, Somalia, Eritrea, Rwanda, Burundi, Tongo, Sudan, Ivory Coast, Nigeria-just to name a few.

The ramification of hunger can be seen in following ways.

(i) It has led to mass migration of people from drought and strife hit areas to neighbouring countries.

(ii) More tribal clashes have occurred over garnering of resources to end hunger.

(iii) International intervention, though belated in some areas has led to mitigating the hunger problems to some extent. Red Cross, UNICEF, WHO, and other organisations are rendering help.

(iv) Hunger has also become a political weapon where western nations are projecting their agendas in affected countries as many African countries have huge minerals and energy resources.

(v) African nations have come together and are trying to tackle this issue through programmes like NEPAD.

(vi) Recently G-6 countries have decided to increase aid to Africa and waive-off loans to heavily indebted nations.

(vii) Hunger has led to internation community forcing African leadership to introduce democracy and more rights to the people.

(viii) Hunger has aggravated AIDS problem in Africa which needs to tackle immediately.

2. India’s response to political crisis in Bangladesh

Bangladesh has been facing a period of political crisis since the end of the tenure of former Prime Minister Khaiida Jia in October 2006. In January 2007, emergency was declared in Bangladesh and elections were postponed.

Violence and lawlessness have been rampant since the arrest of former prime ministers, Sheikh Hasina and Khaiida Jia under corruption charges. Military has an indirect hold over po­litical power and even the extremists have be­come active.

India’s concern is natural under such cir­cumstances. India has advocated for a democratic system at the earliest, reacting in a balanced way.

Anti-India terrorist organisations have been ac­tively working in Bangladesh, and problems like that of refugees are yet to be solved. Under such circumstances India would never conceive a gov­ernment under the influence of anti-India or ex­tremist elements.

On the other hand, India would not even wish to convey a message to the Bangladesh people that India is intruding in the internal matters of Bangladesh.

Thus, India sup­ports a peaceful solution of the ongoing political crisis in Bangladesh.

India has appealed for a solution through dialogue between political par­ties and other related elements, so that a demo­cratic system and normal conditions are estab­lished at the earliest.

3. Importance of World Trade Organization

The World Trade Organisation is increasing its role in determining the policies and points of the members developing economics to which India has not been an exception.

By virtue of being the member of this important organisation India’s policies are also guided by it, directly or indirectly. There have been many issues that explain the equation between India and WTO.

Some of the significant issues with a wide range of coverage are: Intellectual property Rights, TRIPS Agreement, Agriculture Subsidies, the patent regime and its impact on the textile sector, the environment pollution, Anti-dumping policy etc.

Besides the devaluation of rupee injury 1991 and the changeover to market based ex­change rate regime measures were aimed at en­hancing the price competitiveness of exports.

The norms governing foreign investment and foreign collaboration have also undergon significant changes which have a bearing on trade perfor­mance.

Apart from these unilateral measures, the liberalisation of India’s trade policy also reflects its commitments to the WTO.

4. Right to life and personal liberty

Art-21 of the constitution deals with the protection of life and personal liberty.

This fundamental right comes within the purview of the right of freedom. It guarantees that no person shall be deprived of his live and personal liberty except according to procedure established by law.

This right is available to the citizens as well as noncitizens.
In the famous Gopalan case, the Supreme Court opined that ‘personal liberty’ was held to mean only liberty relating to or concerning the person or body of the individual.

Also, it covered protection only against arbitary executive action. But, later on its ambit was widened to include protection against legislative action also and to cover within itself all the varieties of rights, which go to make up the personal liberty of man, other than those provided in Art. 19(1).

So far as Art. 19(1) is concerned; it deals with the freedom of profession and trade. In Meneka Gandhi Vs. Union of India case expressing the view that the attempt of the Court should be to expand the reach and ambit of the Fundamental Rights rather than to attentuate their meaning and context by a process of judicial construction

In Menaka Gandhi case, the apex court held that the right to ‘live’ is not merely confined to physical existence but it includes within its ambit the right to live with human dignity.

Elaborating this view in Francis Coralie Vs. Union Territory of Delhi, the court said that the right to live is not restricted to mere animal existence. The court further held that non-payment of minimum wages to the workers amounted to denial of their right to live with basic human dignity violated Art 21

Recently, a Supreme Court Bench of Justice Ajit Pasayat and Justice S.H. Kapadia has remarked that rape is a crime against basic human rights and is violative of the victim’s most cherished fundamental right, namely right to live contained in art. 21. This is not only a crime against the person of a woman; it is a crime against entire society.

The Supreme Court has ask Ted the High Courts and the Subordinate courts across the country to deal firmly with the accused in the case relation to rape. It said that the punishment awarded should be proportionate to the nature of the offence.

In fact rape is a violation of the victim right to live, which is a crime against entire society. It pushes the victim into deep emotional crisis. Where the victim is a helpless innocent child or a minor, it leaves behind a traumatic experience.

Rape is a crime against basic human rights, which destroys the entire psychology of a woman.

5. ‘Strategic partnership’ between India and United State of America

India and US signed an agreement inaugurating the implementation of the next steps in ‘strategic partnership’ (NSSP), an­nounced by President Bus and Prime Minister Bajpayee.

The NSSP provides a roadmap for in­creased US- Indian cooperation over time on a quarter of issues, civilian nuclear energy, Civil­ian space programmes, high technology trade, and missile defense.

Under the first phase, the US agreed to loosen controls over space and dual use technologies while India tightens its regula­tions on the transfer of sensitive items to third parties, the conclusion of the first phase marks a major milestone in the Indian effort over the last three decades to break out of the isolation from international high technology commerce after the first nuclear test in May 1974.

The implication of ‘Strategic partnership’ is as follows:

(a) The American administration feels that the greatest achievement of the deal would be to lend greater effectiveness and credibility to the international not-proliferation regime.

Without the deal, India with its large and sophisticated nuclear capabilities would have remained outside the international export control regimes governing commerce in sensitive nuclear-related technologies.

(b) Bringing India into the fold is not only a gain for international non-proliferation in response to current challenges. Any objective assessment of effort to counter WMD proliferation would surely put a high value of Indian participation.

(c) One major implication is end of India’s isolation in the field of nuclear commerce.

(d) The implication of India’s Nuclear weapons programme is a matter of debate. There is an overlap between civilian and military aspects of N-programme. A strict differentiation will increase for cost of N-separation, the India side has only promised to ‘work’ with the US for the conclusion of a multilateral Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty (FMCT). Thus India has enough time to build up a ‘minimum credible deterrence’.

(e) S.K. Jain, chairman and M.D. Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) predicts that India could become a global player in the nuclear market. India was the only country that built Small-Sized PHWRs with a capacity of 220 MWe or Medium-Sized PHWRs that generated 540 MWe. These reactors were the right choice for Indonesia, Bangladesh, Malaysia and Vietnam.

(f) There are certain implications whose degree of co-realion with the Indo-US nuclear deal is debated first, what would be the implications of this deal on India-Iran gas pipeline. This could have significantly affected the pace and nature of detente between India and Pakistan.

However the Indo-US nuclear deal may see the start of a process of dehyphenation of India and Pakistan with US. India ‘being a unique case’ is an obvious response to Pakistan. This is a process marked by a short term reverses but definite forward movement.

6. How has the Taiwan issue influenced U.S.-China relations during the last one year?

Taiwan is, as China claims, a part of Republic of China with Democratic type of government. But it is the issue of its possible defection from China that has caused always a non-democratic set up towering over Taiwan.

Therefore, there was martial law in Taiwan for about 38 years which was lifted only in 1991 and 41 year old emergency was lifted only in May 1996 when the election was held in Taiwan.

The presidential election in Taiwan, its campaign and the result was the main issue between US-China relations getting dominating position in last one year.

Because the Presidential elections in Taiwan was over head in Taiwan and the result came in May 1996, which show that Lee Jeng Idui was victorious in the island’s first Presidential election.

American President Bill Clinton is always interested, as China alleges, in creating differences between China and Taiwan. Chinese authority fears Taiwan’s separation due to American interference and so has warned expressly or impliedly not to interfere in this domestic matter and has cleared that force may be used by China to keep Taiwan under control.

Though officially Taiwan has also declared, yet it wants unity with China, but it is fear of the China that the new elected President Lee is ambitious to get autonomy and independence if possible, which China is not reluctant to provide, while America is blowing winds in this fire. Therefore, China has to declare its hardcore policy in express words.

A part from trade, strategic and political matters, Taiwan issue is dominating the sinous relations in last one year. It is believed by experts that US wants its supremacy intact by causing and thus keeping involved other potential super powers into their own problems and so, it has acquired the policy of interfering Taiwan issue with China.

7. Elaborate on India’s Nuclear Doctrine

India had joined the nuclear weap­ons group (NWG) after the nuclear tests of 1974 and 1988. However, India has always been a re­sponsible nuclear power.

The nuclear policy or doctrine of India includes the following aspects’ • Formation and maintenance of a minimum deterrence.

I. No first use of nuclear weapons and also no use of nuclear weapons against a non-nuclear weapons country.

II. The option of use of nuclear weapons is open if India or Indian armed forces are attacked anywhere through biological or chemical weapons.

III. Only the political representative will have the right to order a nuclear attack in return, through the nuclear command authority.

IV. India shall remain committed to making the world nuclear weapons free through impartial nuclear disarmament.

V. India shall maintain a strict control over nuclear and missile-related products and technology.

VII. India shall continue dialogue on treaty for reduction of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and maintain its decision not to conduct nuclear tests in future.

VIII. India’s nuclear doctrine is completely in favour of other countries. The decision of no fur­ther nuclear tests and no export of nuclear tech­nology is a commitment towards being a respon­sible nuclear weapons country.

India has always followed its nuclear doctrine and is committed toward International powers and everybody’s safety.

8. Reasons for industrial sickness in India

The Sick Industries Companies (special Provisions) Act 1985 first defined industrial sickness.

Industrial units are sick under two situations (a) either it’s not worth (defined as paid up capital plus free reserves) is entirely eroded or (b) its accumulated losses are equal to or exceed the entire net worth of the company and it has suffered cash losses for the current and preceding financial years, A company which has eroded 50 per cent or more of its peak net worth during any of the preceding five financial years is termed incipiently sick.

The causes for sickness can be divided into two important categories:

(1) External causes (a) Power cuts, (b) Erratic supply of inputs, (c) Demand and Credit restraints, and (d) Sudden changes in the government policies.

(2) Internal Reasons (i) Faults at the initial levels of planning an construction, (ii) Financial constraints (iii) In competence on the part of entrepreneurs (iv) labour and management problems (v) Age old, inefficient and defective machinery.

Various concessions and incentives are handed out to sick industrial units through government, banks and other policies.

(a) Banks grant various concessions to sick units to rehabitate them e.g. (i) grant of additional working capital facilities to overcome shortage of working capital, (ii) recovery of interest at reduced rates.

(b) Government policy of taking over the management under the provisions of the Industries Development and Regulation Act has not proved an effective instrument for revival of sick units.

(c) Scheme for provision of margin money to sick units in small-scale sector at soft terms has been there since 1982.

(d) Liberalised margin money scheme was introduced in 1987 to assist SSI in their rehabilitation.

(e) Industrial Reconstruction Bank of India was established in 1985 to recive and rehabitate sick units.

(f) Board for Industrial and Financial Reconstruction (BIFR) was set up in 1987 under the SICA for determining the measures required to be taken in respect of sick units.

Efforts are on to improve upon SICA. The govt is also taking steps to change the definition of sickness, set up recovery and winding tribunals, and making industrial practices at per with international standards to miligate industrial sickness.

9. On what grounds can a member be disqualified from either House of Parliament?

A nation-wide debate is going on over the controversy of disqualification of MP’s and MLA’s on the ground of holding office of profit. It began with the disqualification of Samajwadi Party MP Jaya Bachchan from Rajya Sabha on March 17, 2006 with retrospective effect from July 14, 2004. Very soon the controversy took a constitutional crisis and different state governments rushed to save their pillars of power.

There are separate provisions of disqualification for the Members of Parliament and the Members of state legislature.

Our constitution clearly mentions that the parliament has the power to make a law in respect to the issue of qualification and disqualification of the membership in case:

I. he holds any office of profit under the Government of India or of any state, other than an office declared by a law of parliament not to disqualify its holder,
II. he is of unsound mind and stand so declared by a competent court,
III. he is an undercharged insolvent,
IV. he is not citizen of India or has voluntarily acquired the citizenship of a foreign state, or is under any acknowledgement or allegiance or adherence to a foreign state, and
V. it he is so disqualified by or under any law of parliament. It applies to the case of ‘defection’ as prescribed in Tenth Schedule.

Art, 103 lays down that any dispute about the disqualification of a member of parliament shall be referred to the president, who will take a decision on the advice of the Election Commission and decision shall be final.

In case of disqualification on grounds of defection, the matter will be decided by speaker or chairman or Rajy Sabha as the, case may be.

The representation of People Act, 1951 also lays down certain conditions for disqualification of MPs and MLAs:
(a) He must not have been found guilty by a court or on election tribunal of certain election offences or corrupt practices in the elections.
(b) He must not have been convicted by a court of any offence and sentenced to imprisonment for a period of more than two years.
(c) He must not have failed to lodge an election expenses within the time and in a manner prescribed by low.
(d) He must not have been dismissed for corruption or disloyalty from government services.
(e) He must not be a director or a managing agent nor hold an office of profit under any corporation in which the government has any financial interest.
(f) He must not have any interest in government Contracts, execution of government work or services.