Content

1. To mend a broken system – Rebuilding trust in public service recruitment exams needs tech-led overhaul
2. Good Diplomacy, Good Business

To mend a broken system – Rebuilding trust in public service recruitment exams needs tech-led overhaul

Overview

• Topic: Crisis of trust in public service recruitment exams in India.
• Core Issue: Repeated exam paper leaks, corruption, and inefficiency undermining credibility of recruitment bodies.
• Focus: Need for technology-driven, transparent, and accountable recruitment systems.
• Author’s Stand: Restore public trust through reform, transparency, and digital innovation.

Relevance:

• GS 2 – Governance: Recruitment integrity, accountability, transparency, institutional reforms.
• GS 2 – Polity: Role of UPSC/PSC in ensuring meritocracy and equal opportunity.

Practice Questions:

• Discuss how technology can be leveraged to enhance transparency and accountability in public service recruitment.(250 Words)

Context and Background

• Public service commissions (State PSCs, SSC, etc.) serve as symbols of meritocracy, social mobility, and equal opportunity.
• Over the past decade, trust in these institutions has eroded due to widespread exam scams , leaks and other issues.
• Incidents in Punjab (PPSC 2021), Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal exposed systemic weaknesses.
• Recruitment exams, once seen as fair gateways to stable jobs, now symbolize corruption, manipulation, and despair for aspirants.

Root Causes of the Crisis

1. Systemic Vulnerabilities
   1. Paper leaks, manipulation of merit lists, and biased recruitment.
   1. Lack of transparency in exam evaluation and result declaration.
   1. Weak institutional oversight and delayed investigations.
2. Governance Failures
   1. Poor coordination between state agencies and examination bodies.
   1. Limited technological adoption in recruitment processes.
   1. Absence of accountability mechanisms for officials.
3. Social Impact
   1. Erosion of aspirants’ faith in merit-based mobility.
   1. Triggered protests, disillusionment, and social unrest among youth.
   1. Undermined the legitimacy of government institutions.

Consequences

• Public Distrust: Loss of confidence in the fairness of the system.
• Economic Cost: Delay in recruitment impacts governance efficiency.
• Social Unrest: Aspirants’ protests and youth frustration.
• Meritocracy Erosion: Genuine candidates lose out to corrupt practices.

Reform Imperatives

1. Transparency in Recruitment

• Publish exam syllabi, evaluation methodologies, and performance statistics.
• Open data portals for result audits and grievance redressal.
• Encourage public scrutiny to deter malpractice.

2. Technology Integration

• Use biometric identification and encrypted digital systems to curb impersonation and leaks.
• Implement secure question paper delivery systems.
• Strengthen data analytics for anomaly detection in results.

3. Legal & Institutional Strengthening

• Enforce stringent laws against exam malpractice.
• Establish fast-track courts for recruitment fraud.
• Empower independent oversight bodies with authority to probe misconduct.

4. Accountability & Governance

• Introduce review panels to monitor recruitment integrity.
• Public service commissions must be auditable and accountable to citizens.
• Collaboration among central, state, and civil society bodies to ensure oversight.

5. Citizen Participation

• Engage watchdog groups for transparency.
• Allow citizen representation in recruitment audits to rebuild credibility.

Government Initiatives & Suggested Measures

• Home Ministry’s emphasis on innovative technology for exam reform.
• Example: CBI inquiries ordered in cases of leaks.
• Suggested: AI-based exam monitoring, blockchain for question paper tracking, and real-time CCTV surveillance.

Broader Implications

• Ethical Dimension: Restoring trust equals restoring social justice.
• Administrative Dimension: Efficient, transparent recruitment = stronger governance.
• Economic Dimension: Timely appointments = better service delivery and productivity.
• Political Dimension: Reduces populist anger and restores institutional legitimacy.

Challenges

• Resistance to reform from entrenched interests.
• Digital divide across states in implementing tech-based solutions.
• Ensuring data privacy and cyber security in digitized recruitment systems.

Conclusion

• Rebuilding trust in recruitment is both a moral and governance imperative.
• Requires a multi-pronged approach: technology, transparency, and accountability.
• A robust and transparent recruitment system is key to reviving faith in state institutions, empowering youth, and strengthening India’s democracy.

Good Diplomacy, Good Business

Basic Overview

• Topic: Strengthening India–UK trade relations through the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA).
• Focus: How diplomacy, complemented by economic pragmatism, can convert trade opportunities into growth for India.
• Core Message: The India–UK CETA is both a diplomatic and economic milestone that can serve as a launch pad for growth by diversifying markets, attracting investments, and overcoming export bottlenecks.

Relevance:

• GS 2 – International Relations: Bilateral trade agreements, strategic partnerships, economic diplomacy.
• GS 3 – Economy: Trade facilitation, export competitiveness, FDI, MSMEs, logistics reforms.
• GS 2 – Governance: Regulatory simplification, ease of doing business, institutional support for exporters.

Practice Questions:

• Analyse the strategic and economic significance of the India–UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA).(250 Words)

Background Context

• UK PM Keir Starmer’s Visit (2025): Aimed to revive and deepen India–UK relations post-Brexit.
• The visit coincides with U.S. protectionism under Donald Trump’s policies, which have shut doors for Indian exporters — making the UK partnership timely.
• India–UK CETA negotiations mark a strategic pivot toward trusted democratic partners after trade frictions with the EU and uncertainties in global trade regimes.
• The CETA aims to cover 99% of tariff lines, encompassing industrial, agricultural, and services sectors.

Why It Matters

• Diplomatic Angle: Symbol of “Good Diplomacy” — leveraging political goodwill to deepen economic integration.
• Economic Angle: “Good Business” — enhances India’s market access, job creation, and global value chain participation.
• Strategic Angle: Reduces dependence on protectionist economies like the U.S. and China.

Current India–UK Trade Snapshot

• India’s exports to UK (2023–24): USD 15.5 billion
• Imports from UK: USD 12.4 billion
• Trade Balance: In India’s favor (~USD 3 billion).
• Major Indian exports: Gems & jewellery, textiles, pharma, engineering goods, leather, organic chemicals.
• Major imports from UK: Machinery, transport equipment, precious metals, chemicals.
• Target: Double bilateral trade from USD 33 billion to USD 56 billion by 2030.

Sectoral Opportunities

1. Gems & Jewellery: India contributes 6% of UK imports (~USD 9 billion); scope for expansion with tariff reduction.
2. Textiles & Apparel: Indian exports face average UK tariff of 9.2%; CETA can lower duties and enhance competitiveness vis-à-vis Bangladesh and Vietnam.
3. Pharmaceuticals: Indian exports (USD 1.3 billion) face non-tariff barriers (quality norms, pricing regulations). Mutual recognition could open access.
4. Engineering Goods & Machinery: Strong demand in UK’s decarbonization, clean tech, and defense sectors.
5. Processed Foods & Beverages: Lowering UK’s tariff on Indian whisky from 150% to 75% would boost exports.
6. Services: Key growth area—IT, education, R&D, fintech, healthcare, legal services, and tourism.

Challenges Identified

• Regulatory Bottlenecks: India’s “regulatory cholesterol” (complex approval, compliance layers).
• Logistics Constraints: High trade logistics costs and slower customs clearance (India: 173 hours vs. Bangladesh: 67 hours).
• Capital Access: Limited and costly, hindering export competitiveness.
• Labour-Intensive Sectors: Like textiles and apparel face steep competition from zero-duty exporters (e.g., Bangladesh).
• Tariff Disparities: UK’s existing agreements with countries like Canada and Vietnam already provide them duty-free access.

Policy Suggestions & Way Forward

1. Trade Facilitation & Customs Reform
   1. Streamline customs through single-window clearance and end-to-end digital processing.
   1. India’s customs clearance time must reduce from 173 hours to global average (~70 hours).
2. Regulatory Simplification
   1. Rationalize product standards, certifications, and inspection layers.
   1. Ensure mutual recognition agreements (MRAs) for pharma, food, and services.
3. Targeted Incentives
   1. Encourage Indian exporters via Production-Linked Incentives (PLIs) and sector-specific subsidies.
   1. Focus on value-added exports instead of raw material shipments.
4. Domestic Reforms
   1. Improve access to finance and logistics infrastructure.
   1. Enhance port efficiency, warehousing, and multimodal connectivity.
5. Labour & Market Competitiveness
   1. Skill upgradation and quality improvement in MSME and labour-intensive industries.
   1. Align export standards with UK norms for smoother integration.
6. Diplomatic Leverage
   1. Build on UK goodwill to negotiate favorable market access in sensitive sectors (alcohol, dairy, pharmaceuticals).
   1. Use CETA as a model for future FTAs with EU, Canada, and other Commonwealth nations.

Wider Economic Implications

• Short-Term: Boost to exports, FDI inflows, and employment generation in trade-linked sectors.
• Medium-Term: Expansion of India’s manufacturing base through global supply chain integration.
• Long-Term: Strengthening India’s position as a trusted trade partner in the Global South and reducing vulnerability to U.S.–China trade dynamics.

Author’s Core Argument

• “Good diplomacy leads to good business.”
• The India–UK CETA shows that when politics and economics align, trade becomes a vehicle for inclusive growth.
• India must complement diplomatic wins with domestic reforms — better logistics, simplified regulations, and capital access — to realize the full benefits.

Conclusion

• The India–UK CETA is more than a trade pact — it’s a symbol of economic trust and strategic alignment.
• It can serve as a launch pad for growth if India:
  • Enhances trade facilitation,
  • Reduces bureaucratic friction,
  • Improves export competitiveness, and
  • Leverages technology and innovation.
• Ultimately, this is a test of India’s ability to convert diplomacy into durable economic gains — a model of “strategic economic statecraft.”