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UPSC Essay: Science and Technology is a panacea for the growth and security of the nation | Khelo India

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UPSC Essay: Science and

Technology is a panacea for
the growth and security of
the nation

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Pos ted on December 7, 2013 by THESUPERMANRETURNS

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Disclaimer: The below points have been reproduced from memory only and
may not be exactly what I wrote in the exam.
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Introduction
India was one of the richest nations in the world in the medieval ages i.e.

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16th and 17th centuries. Then Akbar rejected the Guttenberg press.
Jahangir rejected the water lift. Indian mariners took little interest in

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adopting the compass and other marine discoveries of the world from the
Europeans. The result within less than a century and a half India
became a slave to those very Europeans!
Indias recent Mars mission Mangalyaan was criticised by some.
Questions were raised can a country as poor as India afford to indulge in

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such scientific extravaganza? Wouldnt this money be better spent on

reducing poverty, providing drinking water, sanitation etc.? But if history is
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UPSC Essay: Science and Technology is a panacea for the growth and security of the nation | Khelo India

any lesson, Mangalyaan was every inch worth it at this cost (Rs. 450

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crores), if for nothing else then simply for keeping India on top of the
technologies of the age and developing scientific temper.
Science is essential for the development of a nation. Its most important
contribution is that it helps in creating the larger social ecosystem required
for growth. It promotes new ideas, removes all feudal institutions,
conservatism, superstitions. It makes society open to change change
which is essential for the development of society. But it also creates many
unintended challenges and also may be inadequate by itself. So it is not a

UPSC Interv iew 2 01 4 : Dr.

Kilem sungla Board
UPSC GS Mains: How to Im prov e
Answer Writing
UPSC Mains 2 01 3 : (Solv ed)
General Studies Paper 1
UPSC GS: How to Prepare
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panacea and needs to be managed well and supported by appropriate

policy framework.

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In the remaining paragraphs of the essay, we will explore each sector, see
how science is essential for the development of the sector and our security,

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yet it is not the panacea and needs to be managed.

AGRICULTURE GROWTH AND FOOD SECURITY AND SCIENCE
Talked about need of science for ensuring food security our population
is growing, but acreage under cultivation is more or less stagnant. So need
to increase productivity which can come only by science.
Talked about irrigation india is a water scarce nation. so need to
encourage micro irrigation techniques.

UPSC Interv iew 2 01 4 : Dr.

Kilem sungla Board
UPSC GS Mains: How to Im prov e
Answer Writing
UPSC Mains 2 01 3 : (Solv ed)
General Studies Paper 1
UPSC GS: How to Prepare
About the Author
UPSC Mains 2 01 3 : (Solv ed)
General Studies Paper 3

UPSC Essay : Science and

Talked about need of science in disaster warning, crop survey, marketing. Technology is a panacea for the
growth and security of the
nation
Talked about use of biometrics in PDS to reduce leakages.
Indian Econom y : Budget
Discussion
All this way, science can help us reduce poverty as well, because
development of agriculture has highest impact on poverty.

UPSC Mains 2 01 3 : (Solv ed)

General Studies Paper 2
UPSC Interv iew 2 01 3 , IMG
Khan Board

Talked about challenges created by science. Bt crops and farmer

suicides. Bt makes agriculture riskier, hence higher number of suicides.
Suggested we need to include socio economic considerations as well
apart from scientific safety while giving approvals.
Talked about science alone not enough. we need to better supply chain,
invest more etc. On PDS, biometrics not the only solution, we need social
audits, universalisation etc. In water, need water audits, water user
associations etc.
So science is essential but not the panacea. It needs to be managed.
INDUSTRY, SERVICES AND INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT ISSUES
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AND SCIENCE
Talked about Industrial revolution, how it is ongoing and still needed.
Talked about how technology has transformed our lives. mobiles, IT etc.
How we need it to improve governance.
Talked about how science can help us discover substitutes for imports,
develop our own resource base.
Gave the limitations of science here, need to focus on inclusive growth
else it wont be sustainable. Talked about tribal displacement here.
Moral of the story, science is absolutely essential, but not the panacea.
We need good policies as well.
ENERGY SECURITY ISSUES AND SCIENCE
Talked about how we import most of our energy. But this is not a
sustainable system for a would be global power.
So we need shale gas, coal bed methane, nuclear energy etc. on the
supply side and need more efficient vehicles, green buildings, ultra super
power plants on the demand side.
But we also have lot of coal, gas and oil which we need to explore. To do
that we need right policies, land acquisition, environmental clearances,
other approvals etc.
Also need to address the safety concerns of nuclear energy post
Fukishama.
Thus needs appropriate framework with science.
CLIMATE CHANGE SECURITY ISSUES AND SCIENCE
Gave some findings of recent IPCC report, global warming. Gave the
impact of climate change on wheat production, Indian monsoons, cyclones.
To mitigate i.e. reduce our emissions, we will need to develop own
science and tech. cant import new technologies from west as they not
giving aid any more.
To adapt, again need science. Need drought resistant crop varieties etc.
In research also, we need advanced satellites, supercomputers. So
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UPSC Essay: Science and Technology is a panacea for the growth and security of the nation | Khelo India

science needed.
But climate change affects poor most. So need to ensure that these
scientific changes help the poor.
So science is not the panacea, but is essential. Need appropriate policy
framework along with science.
DISASTER PREPAREDNESS SECURITY ISSUES AND SCIENCE
Talked about cyclone Phailin and Uttarakhand floods. Phailin was so
severe, yet life loss was so less why? because of science, we could
accurately track phailin and give meaningful actionable warnings to
administration. But in Uttarakhand, IMDs forecasts are not accurate, vague
and not actionable.
But there are so many other aspects of disaster preparation.
Administrative will, planning, vulnerability studies etc. So science again is
not the panacea, though is imp. Need other things also.

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BIOMEDICAL SECURITY ISSUES AND SCIENCE

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Talked about recent Novartis, Tykreb and Bayer compulsory license

issues. But said this cannot go on forever, specially if we want more FTAs.

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MNCs want profit, but we want public health. This conflict needs to be

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resolved. We are a net patent importer. We need to
change
this by
becoming net patent generator. This can only happen with science.

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But then we ll have to ensure our own companies dont become

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these MNCs. Issues such as clinical trials ethics is also there.

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So again, boss, science is essential, but not panacea. Needs proper

policies.
INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL SECURITY ISSUES AND SCIENCE
Wrote how china is developing its weapons ($100 bio defence budget),
talked how naxals, terrorists getting most modern. So we absolutely need
modern weapons, drones etc.
Talked of NSA Prism. Need to safeguard our data.
But science can only give us the weapon. It still needs to be fired. That will
happen only with a political order. So we need political will. We need
intelligence coordination.
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UPSC Essay: Science and Technology is a panacea for the growth and security of the nation | Khelo India

So again, without science we cant do anything, but science is not the

panacea. Need political will, policies etc.
CONCLUSION
Repeated, science is essential, but not maai baap.

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Dear Patriots of
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15 thoughts on UPSC Essay: Science and

Technology is a panacea for the growth and
security of the nation
BHEESHAM PITAMAH FAN sa y s:
Decem ber 7 , 2 0 1 3 a t 9 :4 8 pm

what was your score in essay last time?

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UPSC Essay: Science and Technology is a panacea for the growth and security of the nation | Khelo India

Reply
THESUPERMANRETURNS sa y s:
Decem ber 8 , 2 0 1 3 a t 4 :4 0 pm

param pita pitamaah ji, pichli baar maatra 80

aaye the.
Reply

MANISH sa y s:
Decem ber 1 2 , 2 0 1 3 a t 9 :4 6 a m

shuraat dhaansu h itihaas ka gyaan kaam me laaye ho m

sure is baar poori kasar nikaal loge gua ji.
Reply
THESUPERMANRETURNS sa y s:
Decem ber 1 2 , 2 0 1 3 a t 1 2 :0 6 pm

dhanyawad poppeye ji ummeed karta hun aap

bhi is baar kaafi accha kar rahe hongey
Reply

GANDHJI ZINDABAD sa y s:
Decem ber 1 2 , 2 0 1 3 a t 4 :0 5 pm

Good start and overall view. Solid horizon.

Only point of criticism i can mention is that maybe you could
stress the balanced view (pro-poor ideas, how science is not competing
with other essentials for limited resources ).
All the very best.
Reply
THESUPERMANRETURNS sa y s:
Decem ber 1 3 , 2 0 1 3 a t 7 :1 7 a m

mahatama ji, saadar dhanyawad. sahi keh rahe

hain aap
Reply

AMAN RAJPUT sa y s:
Ja n u a r y 8 , 2 0 1 4 a t 1 1 :2 7 pm

what a crap essay.. i don think this essay is going to fetch

you good marks at all.Still i hope best for you. Last time i got
only around 140.. this time i think i will make it big in essay.
Reply
THESUPERMANRETURNS sa y s:
Ja n u a r y 1 0 , 2 0 1 4 a t 8 :5 6 pm

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Thanksa man ji, good for u

Reply

UDAY sa y s:
Febr u a r y 2 , 2 0 1 4 a t 1 :0 9 pm

140 in essay !!!! I guess then it would be the

highest marks. This time certainly u wud make it
big. Could u plz make comment on my essay written below.
Reply

UDAY sa y s:
Ja n u a r y 3 0 , 2 0 1 4 a t 1 1 :5 3 pm

Hi superman, u have written nicely and after seeing the

volume of info i understood that my essay is the SUBSET of
ur essay :). but any way could u plz check my essay here below
S&T
para1. A tool is value neutral. it is the action of human agency which makes
it value positive or negative. While the advancement of s&T will
constantly aid to growth of human civilisation the ultimate authority to use
them will always lie in the hands of man.
para2. S&T is not new to the modern society. It has been there ever since
the civilisation came into existence but the modern science is truely rooted
in European reanaissance and enlightenment which is reflected in Bacons
words. (Now i do not remember)as well as thoreaus words .. .. .. .
.. It is this ideological transition which completely changed the way science
was looked upon and today it is integrated to development and progress of
society and nation.
para3. (now benefits of s&t) connectivity, employment, increasing
comfort, high HDI, services, education, (I missed disease control), nuclear
energy after explaining all these i wrote that all these things have
aided to the stability and growth of the society and hence nation. And a
stable and growing nation can only ensure security to its subjects as
security demands both internal stability and development of society and
external security of borders. Thankfully, the border security has made
enough progress with defence research on modern warfare and
reconassaice techniques.
Mode change now
para 4. So it looks like that S&T is panacea to all the human ills but
unfortunately it is not. (now opposite examples) globalisation benefitting
only skilled, maginalisatoin of people, discrimantion, social inequality
(World bank report referred), child abuse, human traficking, terrorism
nuclear war, religious fundamentalism, changing family values (Note: I had
initially used falling instead of changing but i did not want to make it
controversial so i changed the word.), internet pornography, nuclear
energy/nuclear war. Note: there was a necessity to link properly these
problems with science, so I had started with globalisation and progressed
one by one explaining all problems. to wards the end of these problems i
wrote all these are the applications of s&t but only negative direction.
(After so much criticism of sci now it was time to cool down but gradually -:)
)
new para: . (do not remember exactly)..Analysis part to point faults in
s&t .. may be we have Agni V and chandrayaan, but if our livelihood
security is haunted on a daily basis then there if no point in talking about
Agni V, Mission onMars and Nuclear Submarine. In this regard it is worth to
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remember Vivekanandas words

So long as the millions live in hunger ..
(Turning to solutions:)
Prevalance of ills in society compells us then to think what has gone wrong.
Is it the problem with s&t or with us. s&t can never be wrong or right. It is
always value neutral. it is the man who has chosen it with different
intentions. Therefore the solution also lies with man only. the biggest
problem in righteous use of s&t is ignorance and therefore the effort should
be to be aware of it. s&t should be respected and appreciated. the higher
the sofistication the higher should be respect.
Last para (do not remember intial) but last line, we must
understand that we develop technology,(Note: here it should be hyphen but
I had put comma -:( ) technology does not develop us.
total 938 words. (I had counted)
Reply
THESUPERMANRETURNS sa y s:
Febr u a r y 1 , 2 0 1 4 a t 4 :5 8 pm

Hi uday, very nice essay. I thnk u ll score very well

in it. Only point raising eyebrow is u seem
somewhere endorsing the view that if poverty exists in india, no
use of mars mission. Or i may be wrong in interpreting this. But
overall a very nicely framed essay.
Reply
UDAY sa y s:
Febr u a r y 2 , 2 0 1 4 a t 1 2 :5 0 pm

hi superman, if u have raised eyebrow

on my point then certainly I consider it
my fault. but if u just look at the penultimate line then it
is explained that poverty, marginalisation discrimination
are also the result of science only, but applied in
negative direction. But any way thanks for ur comment
and i hope u r enjoying ur training.
bye
Reply

UDAY sa y s:
Febr u a r y 2 , 2 0 1 4 a t 1 2 :5 3 pm

secondly, just below that para, I raised a point that Is it the

problem with s&t or with us.
The answer I gave that s&t can never be wrong or right. It is always value
neutral.
Reply

PRIYA sa y s:
Ju n e 8 , 2 0 1 4 a t 8 :0 8 pm

hey superman..amazing essay..after reading it, it is quite

clear one can write an essay with basic ideas, multidimensional thinking and presentation skills..subject knowledge or
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inclination are secondary..

one question did u write headings in the actual essay in exam?
Reply
THESUPERMANRETURNS sa y s:
Ju n e 1 0 , 2 0 1 4 a t 9 :2 0 pm

thanks. yes, wrote in headings.

Reply

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