humanity essay upsc

[Essay Topic- 1 Mains 2020]Life is long journey between human being and being humane.

Introduction, life, in its intricate weave of experiences, emotions, and interactions, can be seen as a profound journey—from merely being a ‘human being’ to evolving into a being truly ‘humane’. this perspective emphasizes the transition from mere existence to embracing virtues that represent the pinnacle of human character., thesis statement, the odyssey of life is not just about living but evolving—moving from the biological dimension of being human to the ethical and spiritual dimension of being humane., crux/meaning of the essay, this essay delves into the journey of self-transformation, from understanding one’s existence and identity as a human being to adopting qualities of compassion, empathy, and kindness—essentially, becoming humane., different dimensions, physical existence vs. ethical being: while every individual starts with the basic fact of existence, the true essence of life might be in adopting principles and values that elevate one’s character. survival vs. altruism: while the primal instincts revolve around self-preservation and survival, a humane outlook drives individuals towards altruism, selflessness, and a commitment to the greater good. growth and enlightenment: the journey from being a human being to being humane also echoes the spiritual and philosophical paths of enlightenment and self-realization., different perspectives, the philosopher’s view: philosophers might explore the essence of a ‘good life’, emphasizing virtues, ethics, and the broader purpose of human existence. the sociologist’s perspective: from a societal viewpoint, the transition to being humane is pivotal for social cohesion, mutual respect, and the development of a harmonious community. the spiritual lens : spiritual traditions often emphasize compassion, love, and kindness, suggesting that the journey to being humane is closely tied to spiritual growth and fulfillment., significance in current context, in a world grappling with divisiveness, conflict, and myriad challenges, the journey towards being humane becomes paramount. compassion, understanding, and empathy stand as beacons of hope, guiding societies towards unity, peace, and collective prosperity., the tapestry of life is enriched when one transcends the mere boundaries of human existence and embraces the virtues that epitomize humanity. while the journey from being a human being to being humane is challenging, filled with introspection and growth, it is this very odyssey that imparts profound meaning, purpose, and depth to life. in the end, it is not just about living, but living with grace, empathy, and a deep commitment to the shared human experience., related posts:.

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Human Values

• It is the essence of human being existence. They determine the core characteristics of the goodness of human behaviour.
• They have evolved over a period of time and are linked with emotions and feelings of humans.
• Although society, religion, location, and other factors influence value systems, some values are universal among people. 
• All value systems contain these principles, and all people uphold them. They are referred to as human values.  Human values have been essential to the evolution of human society.
• Freedom, Creativity, Love & Wisdom

Human Values: Freedom

• Every living creature needs freedom to function. They always detest being bound or constrained. 
• The pursuit of individual freedom has been a guiding theme of human civilisation throughout most of history. The foundation of the entire human civilization is this ongoing pursuit of freedom.

Human Values: Love

Public and Private Life

• It refers to the moral standards one may uphold when engaging with others and conducting business in their professional life.

Principles in Public Relations

Example : 

• Super 30 by Anand Kumar and Abhayanand (the former D.G.P of Bihar) to provide free coaching to poor and marginalised students. 
• CSR Activities of TATA Group like starting a Cancer hospital in Assam etc.
• Mother Teressa cancelled the Nobel Prize launch program for feeding poor kids
• ISCKON Temples has been feeding people daily the serving the humanity
• “Pibanti Naddhah, Swayameva Naambha” - Rivers don’t drink their own water, they give it away altruistically

Example: A policeman ordered to fire on unarmed peaceful protestors. Honest policemen will obey the order. A policeman of integrity will refuse to fire.

Example: A judicial magistrate with objectivity would go by the merits of a drug abuse case related to Bollywood, instead of a media trial.

• Portugal’s health Minister Marta Temido has resigned after a pregnant Indian tourist died due to her decision to temporarily close emergency obstetric services in Lisbon.
• PM Narendra Modi came forward to support the team of the Chandrayaan -2 Mission after the unsuccessful landing of the ‘Vikram’.  
• Vikram Sarabhai accepted the failure of ISRO’s first mission without actually putting it on the mission head (APJ Abdul Kalam)

Example: Honesty: Honesty is the fastest way to prevent a mistake from becoming a failure. Holders of public office must declare any private interests relating to their public duties 

• Doctors and front-line workers showed loyalty to the organization during Covid – 19 pandemics.
• The employee of Taj Hotel Mumbai showed their highest form of loyalty during the 26/11 terror attack while serving, they went beyond their call of duty to save lives. 

Example 

• Poonam Nautiyal , a healthcare worker in Uttarakhand, used to traverse a path of 8-10 km in the mountains for vaccinating people who cannot come to the vaccination centres such as elderly people, lactating mothers, divyangjan etc.
• ‘Collector Bro’ - A civil servant started the ‘ Compassionate Kozhikode’ and ‘ Compassionate Keralam’ for cleaning ponds, feeding the hungry, improving lives after floods and involving the youth for the betterment of society.

Example: 

• Justice HR Khanna’s judgement during the emergency.  
• A judge imposing the same fine on a rich and poor man when both have done the same crime may be objective but not fair

Public Relations and Civil Servants

Civil servants must conduct their public lives within an ethical framework. When somebody enters public life, he can’t say that they will conduct their life normally. They are supposed to be strictly guided by the code of conduct and moral code. 

However, in recent times moral erosion of public servants has been observed. It could be due to the following reasons 

• Priority to materialism over Ethics : These things are sacrificed in comparison to materialism and worldly success. Public servants adopt corrupt practices for fulfilling materialistic needs.
• Example : IAS Chhavi Ranjan and Pooja Singhal linked to Corruption charges.
• Social Acceptance : Society as a whole has started to accept corrupt people. Failure on the part of family, schools, society and institutions to inculcate values. 
• Example : 43% of 17 th Lok Sabha MPs have criminal record
• Institutional issues : These include mega Administration, slow operation and decision-making delays. A number of vertical and horizontal departments have created confusion in the hierarchy leading to delays in decision-making. 
• As per the National Judicial Data Grid (NJDG) more than 5.9 crore cases are pending in courts.
• Most of the CICs offices are running below strength and hence getting delay in reply of RTIs
• Lack of accountability and responsibility : If anything goes well, there is no shortage of people to claim that they are behind that. But if anything goes wrong, nobody is ready to take responsibility. 
• Politico-business-bureaucracy nexus : The public doesn’t resent wrongdoings. It gives decision-makers more liberty to commit such crimes in future.
• Adarsh Society Scam of Mumbai
• Coalgate issues
• Neerav Modi defaulted on loan

Private Relations

• It refers to the moral standards that one upholds when interacting with others and confronting challenges in daily life. It mostly concerns interactions with family and friends. 
• They are informal in nature as they are based on feelings rather than on formal rules that regulate them. 
• A person’s private life can act as a motivating factor but many times can be depressing. The surrounding, ambience from which a person comes to the office daily certainly influences his behaviour for the rest of the day. 

Principles in Private Relationships

Although private ethics differ from person to person, some common principles are shared and accepted by society. For example – 

• Honesty: Being truthful and transparent in your personal relationships is important. 
• Example: Truthful to your family regarding the source of income
• Respect : Respecting the boundaries, beliefs, and opinions of others is essential in maintaining healthy relationships. 
• Example : Mutual respect among friends, life partners like Dashrath Manjhi from Gaya who made road in the memory of his wife
• Feeling of Respect for elders of the family
• Fairness: Treating others with fairness is important. 
• Example: Parents take care of their children with the feeling of fairness
• Confidentiality: Maintaining confidentiality and privacy in personal relationships and not sharing personal information without their consent. 
• Example : Avoid sharing controversial happenings of the past with the next generation
• Communication : Effective communication is essential in maintaining healthy relationships. 
• Example : Learning regional languages of friends 
• Loyalty: Loyalty to the partner and family members is essential.
• Example : Among Business Partners like Burger King & McDonald’s
• Shubhra Chadda and Vivek Prabhakar – Chumbak
• Ghazal Alagh and Varun Alagh - MamaEarth
• Empathy: Demonstrating empathy and compassion towards others by listening to and understanding their concerns. 
• Example: Daughter of Lalu Yadav donated her kidney to him
• Helping senior citizens in relations with compassion

Relation between Private Ethics & Public Ethics

• The distinction between private and public ethics is dubious because a person generally upholds the same moral principles in both their private and public lives. 
• Furthermore, there is no clear distinction between a civil servant's private and professional lives. 
• It is unreasonable to expect someone who lacks moral integrity in public to uphold moral principles in private and vice versa. 
• A government servant's treatment of female co-workers is a reflection of how he treats women in his own home. 

Differences

• Personal and professional ethics shouldn't collide since doing so could result in frustration, guilt, confusion, anger and other negative emotions.
• According to the Civil Service's founding principles, a person loses their individuality and joins the greater system when they join the civil service. 
• Personally, one may feel abortion is morally wrong, but as a doctor, he needs to do an abortion as per professional ethics. 
• Killing a person is unethical but firing on border areas to neutralise terrorists is professional ethics of the army. 
• When performing a role in public, one must separate his personal life and strictly follow a professional code of conduct. 

Ways to Separate Personal and Professional Relations

• Adhere to Objectivity : Take decisions rationally and objectively based on facts and merits only. 
• Follow Code of Conduct : Go by the code of conduct when faced with dilemmas. 
• Impartiality : Be impartial always and ensure that your actions aren’t only impartial but look to be impartial too. 
• Importance to family life : Spend quality time with family and separate work with family. Make them feel that you are not ignoring them, so they are helpful when you are in important public concerns and do not bother you.

Difference between Ethics in Private Relations and Ethics in Public Relations

Values Associated with Work Life

Role of Family Society and Educational Institutions in Inculcating Values

Socialization

• The process of socialization is how a person acquires the values necessary to function as a contributing and productive member of society. 
• It is a lifelong process of shaping an individual’s social tendencies so that he becomes and remains a valuable and productive member of his community.
• A young biological infant goes through this process to become a contributing and active member of his society. 
• Culture is passed down from one generation to the next through this procedure. 

Mechanism of Socialization

It is the informal agency of socialization. Family is a network of relationships marked by cooperation, continuity and emotionality not duplicated in any other system.

Role of families in the Formation of values

• There is close contact between the parents and children. Parents are more accessible to the child than other members of the family. 
• The minds of children develop in a major way through the process of non-formal education at home. Home is often said to be the first school, and parents are the first teachers. 

How do Parents help in the formation of values? 

Parents contribute in the formation of values in their children in following ways–

• Observations: Since a child spends maximum time around their parents, it is natural that they observe them keenly and start to inculcate values shown by their parents. 
• Learning of mother tongue, Food habit, Dressing pattern, Religious rituals etc.
• Conditioning : Those values which are rewarded by the parents become strong, and who are punished become weak. Hence, parents, via this, help in the formation of values in children. 
• Reward for study, motivate a child to excel in that whereas punishment for engaging in specific activities like playing game discourage them to do that .
• Role of Customs and Traditions : Customs and traditions taught by the family help the children to be disciplined and organized.
• If the female members of the family do not have freedom or if they are not allowed to work outside, children would develop the same patriarchal mindset. 
• Ensures smooth integration into society : Family inculcates the values which conform to societal norms and thus ensures value consensus to integrate the child into society. 
• Tolerance, Respecting the religious values of others, Compassion, Truthfulness
• Emotional Experience : If children grow among secure individuals, they start to trust people around them and their thinking becomes positive. 
• Helping children with good reading
• Democratic decision-making : The family should allow the child to participate in decision-making and let children put their views and thereafter take decisions. It helps in inculcating democratic values. 
• Treating all members equally irrespective of gender and age
• Cooking of food of choice of each member in rotational basis

Role of Family in the Socialization of Children 

Styles of Parenting: It is the behaviour displayed by parents to discipline their children and inculcate values in them. Parents translate their love and affection for their children into different styles of parenting. 

Depending upon the style of parenting, it can be classified into three type s-

Role of Education

Quotes: 

• Intelligence plus character that is the true goal of education. – Martin Luther King
• Education without values, as useful as it is, seems rather to make man a cleverer devil. – C S Lewis
• "If a man carefully cultivates values in his conduct, he may still err a little but he won't be far from the standard of truth." -  Confucius
• “Education without values, as useful as it is, seems rather to make man a cleverer devil.” -  C.S. Lewis
• “Destiny of nation is being shaped in her classroom”. What we learn in the class room that should be reflected through our behaviour in the society.
• Dr APJ Abdul Kalam’s quotes on education/teachers
• “The aim of the teacher should be to build character; human values enhance the learning capacity of children through technology and build the confidence among children to be innovative and creative which in turn will make them competitive to face the future."
• “If a country is to be corruption free and become a nation of beautiful minds, I strongly feel their key societal members who can make a difference. They are the father, the mother and the teacher.”

Role of School

• School is the formal agency of socialization. It steps into the life of a child when a child is 4-5 years old.
• School acts as a bridge between family and society and prepares the child for adult life. 

Agents that are at play in value development at School 

Education Policy on Role of Education

• As per National Education Policy , education is regarded as the most potent tool to inculcate values in children. 
• School is a place where systematic learning takes place in the earlier year of life. It provides maximum opportunity and exposure to children. 
• Also, in the school a child is introduced for the first time to members of community outside his family i.e., his peer students, teachers and other staff. This enables the child to learn how to regulate his behaviour in society

Efforts to be made to further strengthen the role of Schools

• Etiquettes and values: World’s Best Practice - 
• Japanese system : First four years basic etiquette and values are taught to children. Children are also taught to clean their toilets. 
• Netherlands : In starting few years students are taught in natural environment so that they can develop positive value towards nature. Plastic is also not used in class
• Government Policy framework: Example -
• The National Institute of Educational Research of Japan has figured out twelve moral values to inculcate in students loke Caring for others; Concern for the welfare of the society, environment, cultural heritage; Self-esteem and self-reliance; Social responsibility; Spirituality; Peaceful conflict resolution; Equality; Justice; Truth and freedom. Similar to this can be started in Indi
• Syllabus and text books: Curated syllabus to provide insight into children. 
• Strategy to improve sports activity: Values of sportsmanship, team spirit , and Opportunity to participate in various sports at a tender age help to develop team spirit among students
• Overall personality development: For integrated development schools can focus on activities like activities for Environment protection, 
• Inculcating compassion, truth, mutual coexistence between different cultures, Yoga, workshops on Unity in diversity, constitutional morality, and lessons from philosophers like Gandhi.
• Deconstructing wrong values - Apart from inculcating values, educational institutions and teachers can play an important role in deconstructing wrong values learned by the students. 
• Ex – gender bias, hatred, communalism or casteism learned by students can be deconstructed inculcating a rational approach.
• Technology and Skill training : Value education is needed to train future technocrats by making them fully aware of both the constructive as well as destructive aspects of technology. 
• Ex . AI and counter AI technology

Role of society

“There are no such things as a self-made man. We are made up of thousands of others” – George Mathew Adams

• The society is a place of informal learning that guarantees inheritance to its members. The social tradition carries values of intimacy, language, love, equality, wishes to live, action, conduct, morality, unity, attachment and jealousy. 

Society as a learning institution facilitates the following -  

• Conformity: It involves changing one’s behaviour to match the responses of others and to fit in with those around us.
• Gaming habits among children 
• New Dress pattern among youth
• Development of interests/hobbies among college going students
• Tolerance: If one is living in a surrounding with people from a variety of caste, religion and regional background, develop tolerance.
• Gated society comprises people from different cultures and traditions
• Residential schools and colleges
• Discipline : Individual discipline is brought by society through sanctions and rewards.
• People assembled for the national anthem use to follow code of conduct
• Socially Responsible : Society encourages individuals to become ethical. 
• Community serving during COVID, Langar (food serving) in Gurudwara strengthens the ethics in the society. 
• Stability and Harmony : Society inculcates such values among people which match with those of the society. This ensures that individuals fit in with society and the social order is sustained. Example : 
• Peace Committee including people from all sections of societies 
• Society teaches young persons to respect its old traditions and customs.
• Social inclusiveness : Society removes the evils of social indifferences like caste, and religion through collective struggle.
• Community celebration of Durga Puja, Ganesh Utsav
• Workplace where everyone works together

Similarly, society may play a deciding role in developing a crime as a sub cultural phenomenon.  If it does not disapprove the unethical behaviors/acts, it may lower the standards of ethics in the society and it may result into increase in criminal activities. For ex- supporting extra judicial killings/encounters for fast justice paves.

Reasons for the erosion of values

• Materialism : Growing obsession with materialistic gains coupled with rapid commercialisation is eroding values and ethics in society. 
• Commodification of day-to-day activities like applications for making friends
• Commercialisation of eco-sensitive zone of the Western Ghats like Lavasa city.
• Collapse of moral values : The growing cynicism, gulf between rights and duties, materialistic tendency, moral degradation and violence have affected the powers of man’s wisdom.
• Old age homes for parents 
• Increase in Rape incidents
• Social breakdown : The vested interests, religious chauvinism, disruption and access attachment to worldly life have created a vacuum in social cohesion and stability. 
• Voting patterns based on religious belief
• Mob lynching and murder on fanaticism like Kanhaiya Lal murder in rajasthan
• Religious persecution like Rohingya in Myanmar, Hindus in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh etc.
• Post truth: In the post-truth era, publication/promotion of false results, their dissemination via new social media is also diminishing the importance of values. 

Ex. Fake news and sensationalism

• Disappearing sources of values : Disintegration of traditional joint families, promotion of bigotry, unworthy rituals, religious fanaticism are some reasons for the disappearing sources of values and eroding values in the society. 
• Social media and its evil: Misuse of social media platforms, propagation of fake news, deep fake are spread through social media and is among the reason for erosion of values.
• Ex. Child Pornography
• Life Threatening game like Blue Whale
• Misinformation on Covid vaccines  
• Counter productivity : Social institutions apply highly illogical and unexplained enforcement mechanisms to punish those who deviate from social norms. Most of the time, it turns out be counter-productive.
• By standers apathy – Silence of good people is more dangerous than the violence of good people. The bystander effect occurs when the presence of others discourages an individual from intervening in an emergency situation.
• Ex. During Covid, many neighbours refused to come for help

The decline in values has led to increased greed and corruption, exploitation and degradation of the environment. It is thus important to contain erosion and distortion of social values. Chasing for materialistic achievements only will not be sustainable in the long-run. Without human dignity and social harmony, higher economic growth can't bring peace and prosperity

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Essay (UPSC Mains) - Previous Year Questions

Looking for comprehensive preparation for the UPSC Mains Essay paper? Explore our collection of previous year questions from 2013 to 2023. Get insights, practice, and boost your chances of success with Past year questions and answers.

• Thinking is like a game; it does not begin unless there is an opposite team.
• Visionary decision-making happens at the intersection of intuition and logic.
• Not all who wander are lost.
• Inspiration for creativity springs from the effort to look for the magical in the mundane.
• Girls are weighed down by restrictions, boys with demands — two equally harmful disciplines.
• Mathematics is the Music of Reason.
• A society that has more justice is a society that needs less charity.
• Education is what remains after one has forgotten what one has learned in school.

Value based / Ethical Issues

• A smile is the chosen vehicle for all ambiguities.
• Just because you have a choice, it does not mean that any of them has to be right.

Philosophical

• The time to repair the roof is when the sun is shining.
• You can not step twice in the same river.
• A ship in harbour is safe, but that is not what ship is for.

Miscellaneous / Mixed

• Forests are the best case studies for economic excellence. (Environment / Economics)
• Poets are the unacknowledged legislators of the world ( Literature / Socio-political-economic impacts)
• History is a series of victories won by the scientific man over the romantic man ( History / Values / Philosophy)
• Your perception of me is a reflection of you; my reaction to you is an awareness of me.
• Philosophy of wantlessness is Utopian, while materialism is a chimera.
• The real is rational and the rational is real.
• Hand that rocks the cradle rules the world.

History / Culture

• History repeats itself, first as a tragedy, second as a farce.

Science and Technology

• What is research, but a blind date with knowledge!
• There are better practices to “best practices”. ( Multiple Themes )
• The process of self-discovery has now been technologically outsourced. ( Philosophy / Technology)
• Life is long journey between human being and being humane.
• Mindful manifesto is the catalyst to a tranquil self.
• Ships do not sink because of water around them; ships sink because of water that gets into them.
• Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.
• Culture is what we are, civilization is what we have.

Social Issues

• There can be no social justice without economic prosperity but economic prosperity without social justice is meaningless.
• Patriarchy is the least noticed yet the most significant structure of social inequality.
• Technology as the silent factor in international relations ( Technology / International Relation ).
• Values are not what humanity is, but what humanity ought to be.
• Courage to accept and dedication to improve are two keys to success.
• Wisdom finds truth.
• South Asian societies are woven not around the state, but around their plural cultures and plural identities.
• Best for an individual is not necessarily best for the society.
• Neglect of primary health care and education in India are reasons for its backwardness.

Science & Technology

• Rise of Artificial Intelligence: the threat of jobless future or better job opportunities through reskilling and upskilling.
• Biased media is a real threat to Indian democracy.
• A good life is one inspired by love and guided by knowledge.
• A people that value its privileges above its principles lose both.
• “The past’ is a permanent dimension of human consciousness and values.
• Customary morality cannot be a guide to modern life.
• Reality does not conform to the ideal, but confirms it.
• Poverty anywhere is a threat to prosperity everywhere.

Environment

• Alternative technologies for a climate change resilient India.

IR & Security

• Management of Indian border disputes – a complex task.
• Joy is the simplest form of gratitude.
• Fulfilment of ‘new woman’ in India is a myth.
• Social media is inherently a selfish medium Domain.
• Has the Non- Alignment Movement (NAM) lost its relevance in a multi-polar world Domain.
• Farming has lost the ability to be a source of subsistence for majority of farmers in India Domain. ( Agriculture )
• Impact of the new economic measures on fiscal ties between the union and states in India Domain.
• Destiny of a nation is shaped in its classrooms.

Polity & Governance

• We may brave human laws but cannot resist natural laws Domain.
• Need brings greed, if greed increases it spoils breed.
• If development is not engendered, it is endangered.
• Cyberspace and internet: Blessing or curse to the human civilization in the long run Domain.
• Near jobless growth in India: An anomaly or an outcome of economic reforms.
• Water disputes between states in federal India Domain.
• Cooperative federalism: Myth or reality India.
• Digital economy: A leveller or a source of economic inequality. ( Technology / Economy)
• Innovation is the key determinant of economic growth and social welfare Domain. ( Technology / Economy / Social Sector)
• Character of an institution is reflected in its leader.
• Lending hands to someone is better than giving a dole.
• Quick but steady wins the race.
• Technology cannot replace manpower.
• Can capitalism bring inclusive growth?
• Education without values, as useful as it is, seems rather to make a man more clever devil. ( Education / Ethics)
• Crisis faced in India – moral or economic. ( Morality / Economics)
• With greater power comes greater responsibility.
• Words are sharper than the two-edged sword.
• Is sting operation an invasion on privacy?
• Was it the policy paralysis or the paralysis of implementation which slowed the growth of our country?
• Tourism: Can this be the next big thing for India?
• Is the growing level of competition good for the youth?
• Are the standardized tests, good measure of academic ability or progress?
• Dreams which should not let India sleep. ( Multiple themes )
• Fifty Gold’s in Olympics: Can this be a reality for India? ( Sports / Governance )
• Be the change you want to see in others – Gandhiji
• Science and technology is the panacea for the growth and security of the nation.
• GDP (Gross Domestic Product) along with GDH (Gross Domestic Happiness) would be the right indices for judging the well-being of a country.
• Is the Colonial mentality hindering India’s Success? ( History / Culture / Growth & Development / Ethics )

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Aayush Gupta , Rank 74 in UPSC Exam | The march of science and the erosion of human values | Triumph IAS

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IAS Aayush Gupta 

Essay Topic: The march of science and the erosion of human values

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• Triumph’s Essay Upgradation Test Series (Under Personal Guidance of Vikash Ranjan Sir) doesn’t only focus on improving student’s linguistic skills but also focus on improving student’s ability to comprehend the topic-sentence (subject) recall & relate the facts, concepts, propose thesis-statements, and logically assimilate the ideas & counter ideas with clarity in expression on temporal & Sectoral Scales of knowledge.
• Further students are provided one-on-one INTERACTION* Session with Vikash Ranjan Sir. Students get personal feedback on their strength and weaknesses, regarding what is ‘good about their essay and what more should be done to make it a better one’ by Vikash Ranjan Sir.

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• Essay is Low hanging Fruit. Marks in Essay is Effectively Contributing in Final Selection in New Pattern of Mains Exam. With a Well Developed ‘Knowledge Matrix and Rigorous Practice’, One can Score upto 160 + in Essay. So IAS Aspirants should never Ignore Essay Preparation
• Inculcating Writing Competency in Essay for IAS, which is Different from Essay in English, Essay in School and College.

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Essay Paper UPSC 2020 (Mains): Question Paper and Analysis

Last updated on January 9, 2021 by ClearIAS Team

UPSC conducted the  Essay Paper , as part of the Civil Services Main Exam 2020 on 08-01-2021.

There were 8 Essay topics, out of which candidates were asked to write on two topics in 3 hours.

Table of Contents

Essay Paper UPSC 2020 Instructions

• Total Marks: 250 marks, Time duration: 3 hours.
• The essay must be written in the medium authorized in the admission certificate which must be stated clearly on the cover of this question-cum-answer (QCA) booklet in the space provided.
• No marks will be given for answers written in the medium other than the authorized one.
• Word limit, as specified, should be adhered to.
• Any page or portion of the page left blank, must be struck off clearly.

Essay Question Paper – UPSC Civil Services Main Exam (Written) 2020

Write two essays, choosing one topic from each of the following Sections A and B, in about 1000-1200 words each:

• Life is long journey between human being and being humane
• Mindful manifesto is the catalyst to a tranquil self
• Ships do not sink because of water around them,  ships sink because of water that gets into them
• Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication
• Culture is what we are, civilization is what we have
• There can be no social justice without economic prosperity but economic prosperity without social justice is meaningless
• Patriarchy is the least noticed yet the most significant structure of social inequality
• Technology as the silent factor in international relations

Though aspirants were asked to write only two essays out of eight, most aspirants faced difficulty to select the right combination of two essays.

A philosophical theme was present in most of the essay topics in Section A as well as Section B.

As per most aspirants, the essay topic ‘Mindful manifesto is the catalyst to a tranquil self’ seemed the most tricky one. Only a few attempted that topic.

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UPSC has ensured that the essay topics were much different from the GS questions.

As we have mentioned many times, Essay needs a different approach than GS. Only those candidates with good essay writing skills will score high in this year’s essay paper.

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• Essay On Humanity

Essay on Humanity

Humanity definition.

Humanity is a cumulative term used for all human beings, showing sympathy, empathy, love and treating others with respect. The term humanity is used to describe the act of kindness and compassion towards others. It is one of the unique things that differentiates us from animals. It is a value that binds all of us. A human being requires a gentle heart to show empathy with others.

We as human beings are creative, and with our will and hard work, we can achieve anything in our life. When we reach something in our life, it is considered a milestone of the human race. The value of humanity should be included in academics in schools for a better future.

Humanity can be defined as unconditional love for all human beings irrespective of gender, caste, religion, etc., and it also includes love for plants and animals. The most significant humanitarian dedicates their life serving the poor and needy, which individuals can provide in their lifetime. Serving the impoverished means you are thinking about others more than yourself. If you are capable enough, you must help the poor and needy. It is a sign of good humanitarianism.

Importance of Humanity

As humans, our race is progressing into the future, due to which the true essence of humanity is being corrupted. We should remember that the acts of society should not be involved with our gain, like money, power or fame. Our world, where we inhabit, is divided by borders, but we are fortunate to have the freedom to travel anywhere in this world. A few countries or nations are in the constant process of acquiring land, which results in the loss of many innocent human lives.

Countries like Syria, Yemen, Myanmar and many more have lost many innocent lives. These countries face a crisis, and the situation is still not resolved. In these countries, there is no humanity, but we need it to tackle the ongoing problems. We all should come forward to show true humanity by helping the poor and needy and also for birds, animals, etc. Society will heal and make our environment prosperous.

The Great Humanitarians

While going through our history, we get to know about many humanitarians who used to live among us. These names are well-known personalities that almost everyone knows. A few examples are Nelson Mandala, Mahatma Gandhi, Mother Teresa, etc.

Mahatma Gandhi, popularly known as the Father of the Nation, is a great example who devoted his entire life to free his country from the British rulers. He lost his life serving the nation and working to better the nation. Thus, he is a great inspiration for all humans.

Another inspiration is Nelson Mandela, a great humanitarian who served the poor and needy of the nation. The great poet Rabindranath Tagore truly believed in humanity.

These famous humanitarians’ acts and ways are great examples for today’s generation to help the poor and needy. As good human beings, we should indulge in acts of kindness and giving back. Humanity is all about selfless acts of compassion.

Conclusion of the Essay on Humanity

The happiest man on this planet is one who serves humanity. Real happiness is the inner satisfaction you can get from society; no matter how rich you are, you can’t buy inner happiness.

All religions teach us about humanity, love, and peace in this world. You don’t need to be a rich person to showcase your humanity. Anyone can show their humanity by helping and sharing things with the poor. It can be anything like money, food, clothes, shelter, etc.

But humans have always indulged in acts that defy humanity, but as a generation, we have to rise and strive to live in a world where everybody is living a fair life. And we can attain it through acts of humanity.

An essay on humanity will be of great help while writing an essay. The correct method of writing an essay will help them to crack their exam with flying colours. Students can also visit our BYJU’S website to get more CBSE Essays , question papers, sample papers, etc.

Frequently asked Questions on Humanity Essay

What is the meaning of humanity.

Humanity refers to all the basic qualities that are expected to be exhibited by humans.

Why is humanity important in one’s life?

As a human being, helping and lending support to fellow human beings is an important aspect.

Name some humanitarians who changed the world.

Mother Teresa, Nelson Mandela and Mahatma Gandhi are some humanitarians who changed the world with their actions and are still remembered today.

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Writing a good Essay in UPSC Mains, Explained by Anudeep Durishetty

Current Affairs Classes Pre cum Mains 2025, Batch Starts: 11th September 2024 Click Here for more information

Novelist Stephen King put it beautifully when he said, “I write to find out what I think.”

Writing is a window to your thought process. What you write on paper will tell the reader how you think, how you argue and the way you substantiate your viewpoint. This is why for most competitive examinations and academic entrance tests, essay is mandatory.

In the Civil Services Exam too, we have a paper worth 250 marks, equivalent to a General Studies paper. Despite its importance, essay paper often does not get the attention it deserves from aspirants. First timers think they will write an excellent essay in the final exam itself, whereas experienced aspirants believe that since they had already studied a ton for GS, it will alone be enough to write a good essay. This is a fatal miscalculation.

I was one of those who made these errors in the past, and it is not a coincidence that I scored only 100 in CSE 2015. But in 2017, I devoted adequate time to this paper. I collected useful quotes, prepared notes and even made rough essay drafts for frequently asked topics. All this effort in essay paper helped me score 155.

What follows is an elaborate post on how you should tackle the Essay paper. I’ve organised the content as follows:

What UPSC says about the essay paper

How and from where to prepare?

Improving language and expression

• On subheadings and rough drafts
• What you must avoid
• How to write a powerful introduction?
• Developing the content of an Essay

Substantiating your arguments

• How to conclude an Essay
• My notes, quote collection and sample essays

“Candidates may be required to write essays on multiple topics. They will be expected to  keep closely to the subject of the essay,   to arrange their ideas in an orderly fashion, and to write concisely . Credit will be given for  effective and exact expression .”

Essay distinguishes itself from GS in the sense that in GS, marks will be awarded purely for content. But in essay, examiners will pay special attention to not just the content, but also the language, coherence and the way you organise your write-up.

So you must take adequate care to arrange your ideas properly and not commit any fundamental spelling or grammatical errors.

Most of the content you write in Essay will come from your GS preparation. Apart from this, the following sources will help:

• Reading non-fiction  helps you develop a matured thought process. Apart from imparting knowledge, they will also let you come across good figures of speech, art of argumentation, powerful rhetoric and unique content etc. For example, in an essay on Artificial Intelligence, I took arguments from Yuval Harari’s  Homo Deus  to argue that AI is an imminent threat to humanity. Or if you read  Why Nations Fail,  a book replete with examples, you will understand the importance of innovation, political and economic freedoms in propelling a nation forward. So my suggestion is, apart from UPSC related material, develop the hobby of reading non-fiction books. I do not mean to suggest that you should start reading one  non-fiction book per topic to get good scores in Essay, but reading them occasionally in your free time will benefit you in the long run.
• Referring to specific magazines:  For certain topics, you can refer to specific issues of Yojana/EPW/Economic Survey etc. Example: for an essay on tribal issues or public health, you can go through specific issues of these magazines for getting the latest statistics (IMR, MMR, malnutrition levels etc) and also about the positives and criticisms of govt schemes in that sector.
• Collecting good stories/anecdotes and quotes: Anecdotes, quotes and real life stories you see in newspapers and books which can be used in essay should be noted down. In most of my essays, I used to start with a relevant story or an anecdote that has the essay topic as its underlying theme. Apart from these, I also used a couple of quotes of eminent persons.

         List of quotes, anecdotes I collected are available in the link at the end of this article.

Language in essay must be simple and clear with as little jargon as possible. If you want to use complex definitional terms such as, say, ‘Constitutionalism’ or ‘Sanskritisation’ please define it in sentence just before you use it. Examiner will also understand clearly what you want to convey. Clear writing is clear thinking. And that is what any reader looks for.

Keep your sentences short and powerful. Long, winding sentences makes it difficult to read and understand. If you tack on one clause after another through conjunctions, what you get is a bad sentence sprawl.

Example of a bad sentence sprawl:

At the end of World War 2, on the one hand, while capitalism was successfully championed by the nations in North America and Europe, on the other hand, it was USSR that put Communism at the forefront due to which there was an ideological clash between the the two superpowers which had led to proxy wars in various parts of the globe, a nuclear arms race and a rapid deterioration of the security of the world.

(By the time readers finish reading it, they will lose their breath and the point of the sentence)

So I had a simple rule: If you run out of your breath while  reading a sentence, then probably you will have to break it into two.

Rewriting the aforementioned example after breaking it into two (which makes it much easier to read and comprehend):

After World War 2, while the North American and European nations championed capitalism, USSR put communism at the forefront. This ideological clash between the superpowers led to several proxy wars, a nuclear arms race and a rapid deterioration of world security.

There is no need to memorise complex words for writing a good essay. But an occasional use of a powerful word, or a good phrase definitely gives your write-up an edge.

Also, I believe that learning numerous words by rote will not make them stick in your brain for long. The best way to build your vocabulary is by reading non-fiction and English newspapers. While reading these, if you come across a good turn of phrase, or a word that you don’t recognise, please note it down in a book, find its meaning and understand the context in which the word was used. This helps in long term memory. Having a dictionary app on your phone also helps.

Building vocabulary is a slow process, but with consistency, anyone can become better at using an expansive set of words.

Subheadings & Rough Drafts

We can be a little innovative in our subheadings. Instead of bland subheadings such as ‘ Benefits of Nuclear Energy’  we can use “ Nuclear Energy: Promise or Peril?’  Similarly, for the essay on Social Media, instead of writing ‘ Advantages and Disadvantages of Social Media ’, I wrote  “Social Media: A Double Edged Sword”

You can find my collection of a few such subheadings in the link to my notes, given at the end of the article.

I also prepared a rough draft for a few essay topics (link given at the end). You may need to modify the structure as per the demand of the question.

What you must avoid in Essay

• Do not focus excessively only on one point, or one dimension (such as the historical or political aspect) Your essay needs to be expansive and multi-dimensional.
• During preparation, we read a lot and it’s understandable that we feel strongly about certain topics. And since essay offers freedom to write, it’s very easy to get carried away with such a topic. But make sure that you write what is asked, not what you know or feel like. No  mann ki baat . Always stick to the subject of the topic. It helps to read the question in the midst of your essay to ensure that you are not steering away from the topic.
• If you are not comfortable writing about abstract philosophical topics (I am terrible at writing them), avoid such questions. Your choice of topic has no bearing on the marks and that is why, selecting an unpopular topic just for the sake of it is unwise. Also, if there’s a technical term in the question, be doubly sure that you understand it correctly. For instance, in 2014, there was a question on ‘standard tests’, which is a technical term. I misunderstood it and wrote a generic essay. I got 112.
• When you take a final stand on an issue, it’s best to avoid extreme or highly unpopular opinions. We are free to have any opinion in the privacy of our minds, but in UPSC essay why take that risk? For instance, in an essay on Capital Punishment, in the main body content, you should present a case for both abolition and retention. But when you take a stance, it’s best to be an abolitionist.
• No ranting. You might be a great fan of Karl Marx, but if there’s a question on Capitalism, do not rant or rail against it ? You must present both the positives and negatives of Capitalism and end the essay on a balanced note.
• Do not dedicate disproportionate amount of time for the first essay and scamper through the second. Both carry equal marks, so please invest equal time.

How to transition smoothly from one para to the next

This can be done in three ways.

Through a link sentence at the end of a para:

Here, at the end of a para, you write a sentence that signals to the examiner what’s coming next. For example, let’s say you have just written a para about the threat posed by Artificial Intelligence (AI) to jobs. At the end of that para you can write a link sentence—   “Further, we must be mindful of the fact that Artificial Intelligence poses a major challenge not just economically, but also ethically.”  And in the next para, you can write about the ethical issues concerning AI.

Through a question:

Instead of a link sentence, you can also add a question at the end of a para so that examiner’s attention is helplessly carried to the next. To take the similar example as above, the question can be something like—   “Thus we have examined the threat posed by AI to our economy, but what about the challenges brought by AI to our ethics and morals?”  And in the next para, you can write about the ethical issues concerning AI.

Signalling the shift at the start of next paragraph:

Here you can simply add a word or two at the beginning of a para that signals a shift in your subtopic. For example in an essay on  Globalisation , let’s say you have just written a para about its historical evolution and impact. You can start the next para with something like—  “Politically too, globalisation has had a tremendous impact……” This way examiner immediately knows what to expect.

These steps will ensure that the transition between paragraphs is not abrupt.

How to write a good Introduction to your Essay?

Essay introduction can be:

a fictitious incident or story (where you introduce a character); a real life anecdote; a quote; or a simple definition of the words in the question (not recommended in Essay)

In GS, definitional approach is a great way to introduce your answers. But in essay, they are rather stale, lacking in any human element. I always believe that a good way to start your essay is to have that touch of humanity and warmth in your introduction.

In my Mains exam, this was my introduction to the essay ‘Destiny of a nation is shaped in its classroom’

“The year was 1945. Towards the end of a gruesome world war, the world powers decided to carve up the Korean peninsula along the 38th parallel.

“Before partition, North and South Korea might have been homogeneous in every respect, but after the division, they steered onto different paths. While schools in the North chose to ‘educate’ their children in the worship of a cult leader, ideological indoctrination and servility, its southern counterpart focused on liberal education, innovation and economic growth.

“Today, almost seven decades later, the difference in the fates of these people and the trajectories of both these nations cannot be more stark. One is known for gross violation of human rights, while the other a champion of liberal democracy. One is known for gut-wrenching poverty, while the other unbridled prosperity.

“This only proves the age old adage that the destiny of a nation is indeed shaped in its classrooms.”

Similarly, for the Social Media essay, my introduction sought to bring to the fore the paradox of Social Media. I wrote on how social media was leveraged to crowdsource help and rescue during Chennai floods in 2015. At the same time, I mentioned how it was used nefariously in 2012 to cause mass exodus of northeast people from Bangalore. And taking cue from this introduction, in the main body, I discussed about the inherent selfishness and altruism associated with social media.

These real life stories, anecdotes and incidents are everywhere in our books and newspapers. So when you come across them, note down and ponder as to how you can use them in your essay.

Developing the Main Content from the Topic

This is like spinning the web from a thread. Depending on the topic, you can choose among the following options that fits best.

• Temporal: Past, present and future
• Sectoral: Media, Science & Tech, Business, Sports, Religion, Politics, Administration etc
• Walks of Life : Individual, Family, Professional workplace, Society, Community, National, Global
• Problem & Solution:  Concept (historical evolution+status), benefits, problems, solutions
• Standard : Social, Political, Economical, Administrative, International, Environmental, Historical, Scientific, Security/Defence, Legal

Example: for a topic like  “Has Globalisation delivered on its promise?”  I find the problem & solution method an apt way to develop your narrative. So choose as per the question.

In the main body of the essay, each para must have an argument or an idea and a reasoning to back that argument. You can substantiate it through a real life example, a statistic, an authentic committee or organisational report etc.

For example, if you are arguing that Capital punishment is an expensive form of justice, you should be able to given an example or a statistic or Law Commission’s opinion as to how the subjects of death penalty are overwhelmingly from poor communities.

Statistics, examples, expert opinions and constitutional provisions are crucial and they make your arguments authoritative.

Concluding an Essay

Conclusion needs to be on  a futuristic, optimistic note. You need to summarise the complete essay in 3-4 sentences, after which you can write your vision for future.

You can source some useful terms from the speeches of PM Modi. Phrases like  Sabka saath sabka vikas ,  Reform-Perform-Transform, Building A New India  etc can come handy.  Rhetoric, lofty expressions, constitutional ideals, sanskrit slokas and quotes are a good way to conclude your essay.

But suppose in your introduction, if you had written about a fictitious character, then it’s always advisable to end your write-up with a reference to that character. It gives a sense of completeness to the essay.

Readers should keep in mind that these notes are written rather haphazardly (I mean who makes notes thinking that in future, they might have to upload them publicly :D)

They are fragmented in certain pages, so you may not be able to comprehend them completely, but nevertheless I hope you take home something useful.

Link to handwritten notes:

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1jmVMGOzAk2d9B5Y0HQ9XpVF5Mh2IXGku

Quote collection:

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1jk71jLao60hHwJoTuGYaIDgJWccxa5Xn

List of Topics one needs to prepare:

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1q0W0PeH-80EKt6ucJTFOVPUlmXvCIzd-

Sample Essays:  

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1jqfUi1FXdG0icBdJpdQvwH1wlAizCMvo

Read More at: https://anudeepdurishetty.in/ 

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What is it to be human? What defines humanity?

Being humane is the best treat to possess as a human. Being, a human being we to be human must possess all the divine features which takes the worldly human beings to something divine. Therefore, possessing such qualities in one’s life as a human being which uplifts a person’s stature to such a level where his immediate society in general considers him/her as someone to imitate. In this regard divine qualities like compassion and a sense of fellow feeling to one and all as well as qualities like humility, kindness and thereby always following the path of truth and on the contrary not taking the path of fallacy and hypocrisy may also be considered as one among the many qualities of life which uplifts the personality of a person from human to humane.

In the present-day globalised world human beings of this globe are becoming more and more materialistic. In such a scenario following the path of worldly characteristics which uplifts him to divine creatures is becoming like searching water in a desert. In this regard, it may be said that, human beings desires have elongated at the present times but not his/her means of achieving them as is the case with most of the human beings. Thus, in terms of need versus greed conundrum the world has shrink a lot. We have as human beings have a long list of desires in life at the same time the required hard work to achieve them is lacking in most of the human beings. Thus, there has been a diabolic relationship between desires and the achievability of these desires in life. Resultantly, happiness for most of we human beings have become like a mirage of the desert. The more we search for it in the desert of human life, the more the turmoil that we face in this process.

The whole process of being human being is encapsulated in a yolk named life. Thus, what we are, how we are and where we are, the radar in this regard of the voyage of a human being’s life is controlled by the whole concept called ‘life’. There is something called existence for we human beings in this world till this radar of life works in harmonisation with the body, mind and soul of we human beings. Till when we human beings exist is expressed in common parlance as longevity. Yes, life for we human beings is divine and its beginning and end is in the hands of the almighty. In this regard procreation process of we human being’s is just a means to the whole process of the beginning of the human life. So, vanity, arrogance, and deadly qualities like, greed, utmost hunger for worldly pleasures for we, most of the human beings must not take precedence over the divine qualities of life. Therefore, wen positivity and positive qualities of life takes precedence over the negativity and negative qualities of life, then only, such a human being can be said truly human by being humane in this world of ours.

What defines humanity?

The definition of humanity has never been exhaustive. Many a man, many the mind so are as many the definitions of humanity. So, to define humanity from my behalf, I consider the whole process to be like looking humanity through a multi-coloured prism. The whole exercise in this process is a myopic view as a whole towards the whole process of defining humanity. Still, from a layman’s perspective, I would like to define humanity as a culmination of a worldly race with the unifying trait of rationality.

What separates humanity from a beach or a reptile is his rational trait as possessed by him. Rationality in we human beings helps him to distinguish the various shades that comes to his life. These shades include joyousness versus sorrow, panic versus courage, happiness versus sadness to name a few in this regard. Humanity since time immemorial has been a victim of all these shades of life. Human life is not like a uniform and straight line. Time, as a force of life puts at its own desire its marks in it. Therefore, it is rightly said that, humanity is the slave of time. As time hurts humanity, it heals too.

Therefore, what defines humanity is the fact that, how humanity overcomes the negative shades of life in its journey towards eternity and thereby upholds the positivity and the positive elements in its journey in this world. Therefore, the gist of the definition of humanity is that, humanity is that facet of the world which always looks towards or faces the brighter side of being or in other words, the definition of humanity is in overcoming the negative elements of the world. In the whole process, humanity will certainly herald in an era where there is positivity among them in the form of overall happiness and joy. The repercussions of this phenomenon of humanity will certainly usher in the world’s human being where happiness prevails over sadness, joyous feelings prevail over sorrow. All in all, this culmination in the being of humanity will usher in an overhauling of humanity itself, thereby making it something to imitate for the other creatures of this world. In the long run, these will embolden the trait of human being as the most superior creature of this world which is of possessing rationality at its zenith.

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Artificial Intelligence - Benefits, Applications, Types, and Concerns

Sub-Categories:

Science and Technology

Table of Contents

• What is Artificial Intelligence

Applications of Artificial Intelligence

Advantages and disadvantages of artificial intelligence.

• India amp Artificial Intelligence

Prelims: General Science

Mains: Science and Technology- Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, Robotics, Nano-technology, and Biotechnology.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is an emerging technology that enables computers and machines to simulate human intelligence and problem-solving capabilities. It involves the development of algorithms and models that enable computers to perform tasks that would typically require human intelligence , such as learning, reasoning, problem-solving, perception, and decision-making.

Artificial Intelligence has become increasingly prevalent in various domains, including natural language processing , computer vision, robotics, and decision support systems. As AI technology advances, it holds the potential to revolutionise numerous industries and aspects of our daily lives, while also raising important ethical considerations regarding its responsible development and deployment.

What is Artificial Intelligence?

Artificial Intelligence refers to machines performing human-like tasks. Its main components are Machine Learning algorithms that train on data, Neural Networks that mimic the brain's structure, and Natural Language Processing that understands human language. AI systems work by taking inputs, processing them with algorithms, and providing intelligent outputs that mimic human cognition and reasoning abilities.

Brief History of Artificial Intelligence

• Alan Turing proposed " Turing Test " to evaluate machine intelligence
• John McCarthy coined the term "Artificial Intelligence"
• Examples: DENDRAL (chemical analysis), MYCIN (medical diagnosis)
• Algorithms like decision trees and neural networks
• Systems learn from data instead of hard-coded rules
• Inspired by human brain structure and function
• Excelled in computer vision and natural language processing
• Driven by large datasets (e.g., ImageNet), computing power (GPUs)
• Algorithmic advances like deep learning
• Major tech companies invested heavily in AI research
• Natural language processing (e.g., ChatGPT by OpenAI )
• Computer vision (e.g., object detection by DeepMind)
• Reinforcement learning (e.g., AlphaGo by DeepMind)
• Widespread adoption of AI technologies across industries

Elements of Artificial Intelligence

• Example : Spam filtering in email clients, which learns to identify spam emails based on patterns in the data.
• Example: Facial recognition systems used for tagging people in photos or unlocking smartphones.
• Example : Virtual assistants like Siri or Alexa that can understand and respond to voice commands.
• Example : Self-driving cars that can detect and recognize objects, pedestrians, and traffic signals.
• Example : Recommendation systems used by streaming platforms like Netflix to suggest movies and shows based on user preferences.

Types of Artificial Intelligence

• Narrow AI is designed for specific tasks and operates within predefined boundaries.
• Examples: Virtual assistants, chess-playing programs, speech recognition, spam filters
• General Artificial Intelligence aims to mimic human intelligence across various tasks.
• Unlike narrow AI, AGI can reason, learn, and adapt like a human.
• A future form of AI surpasses human intelligence significantly.
• These AI systems operate in the present moment, reacting to current data without memory or past experiences.
• Examples: IBM’s Deep Blue (chess-playing AI) and Google’s AlphaGo
• Artificial Intelligence with limited memory can use past data to make decisions but does not have a full history of interactions.
• Examples: Self-driving cars, language translation software
• This type aims to understand human emotions, beliefs, intentions and thought processes.
• This type of AI is still in its infancy.
• AI that has a sense of self-awareness and consciousness, similar to human consciousness.
• It is highly speculative and not yet achieved.

How does AI work?

• AI systems acquire data, preprocess it, and extract relevant features.
• Appropriate algorithms like machine learning, deep learning, or rules are selected and trained on the data to learn patterns.
• The trained models are evaluated, optimized, and deployed to make predictions or decisions based on new input data.
• Artificial Intelligence combines techniques like natural language processing, computer vision, and reasoning to mimic human-like intelligence.
• It continuously learns and improves through exposure to more data and feedback.

Artificial intelligence has numerous applications across various industries. Some of the most common applications include:

• E-commerce : Helps in personalised recommendations, fraud detection, and chatbots for customer support.
• Education : Used for adaptive learning, personalised learning plans, and intelligent tutoring systems.
• Robotics : Powers robots for automation, inspection, and assembly line tasks.
• Healthcare : Aids in medical diagnosis, drug discovery, and patient monitoring.
• Social Media : Used for content moderation, recommendation systems, and sentiment analysis.
• Agriculture : Helps in precision farming, crop monitoring, and yield prediction.
• Manufacturing : Used for quality control, predictive maintenance, supply chain optimization, and robotics.
• Finance : Aids in fraud detection, risk assessment, and investment management.
• Transportation : Used for self-driving cars, traffic management, and route optimization.
• Environment : Helps in climate modelling, pollution monitoring, and renewable energy management.

Examples of AI in Daily Life

Artificial Intelligence is an integral part of our lives, enhancing convenience, efficiency, and decision-making across various domains.

• Chatbots : ChatGPT by OpenAI, Copilot by Microsoft Bing
• Smart assistants : Siri, Alexa, and Cortana
• Recommendation algorithms : Google’s search algorithm, Netflix’s personalised content recommendations
• Face Recognition : FaceID on iPhones, Security cameras
• Navigation apps : Google Maps, Waze
• Social Media algorithms : Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter’s curated feeds.
• Ridesharing apps : Uber, Ola

Artificial Intelligence (AI) offers immense potential for innovation and efficiency but comes with challenges such as ethical concerns, job displacement, and data privacy issues.

Significance of AI

• Example : Robotic process automation in finance for data entry and report generation.
• Example : Predictive analytics in retail for demand forecasting and inventory optimization.
• Example : Chatbots for customer service inquiries in various industries.
• Example : Credit risk assessment in banking using machine learning models.
• Example : AI-assisted drug discovery and personalized medicine.

Concerns Related to Artificial Intelligence

• Example : Self-checkout systems in retail reducing the need for cashiers.
• Ethical concerns: AI systems can perpetuate biases present in training data or algorithms.
• Example : Facial recognition systems showing bias against certain ethnicities.
• Example : DeepFakes for spreading misinformation and propaganda.
• Example : Inaccurate medical diagnoses due to incomplete or biased patient data.
• Example : Chatbots failing to provide emotional support in mental health applications.
• Example : Significant investment required for AI research and development.
• Example : Lack of transparency in AI-based loan approval systems.

India & Artificial Intelligence

The Indian government and various organisations have taken several initiatives to promote the development and adoption of AI in the country. Here are some key initiatives:

• National Strategy for AI (2018) : It outlines the vision, mission, and a comprehensive plan to leverage Artificial Intelligence for economic growth and social development.
• AI for All : To promote AI education and research.
• Responsible AI for Social Empowerment (RAISE) : To develop AI-based solutions for social good.
• AI for Agriculture : To improve agricultural productivity and farmer welfare.
• Responsible AI for Youth: To equip young people with the necessary skills and mindset for AI readiness.
• AI Centers of Excellence : The government has established AI Centers of Excellence in various institutes and universities, such as IITs, to promote research and development in AI.
• FutureSkills PRIME : It is, a joint initiative by NASSCOM and MeitY, a skill development program aimed at reskilling and upskilling IT professionals in emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, to bridge the talent gap.
• INDIAai : It is the National AI Portal of India, and serves as a knowledge portal, a research organization, and an ecosystem-building initiative.

PYQs on Artificial Intelligence

Question 1 : Introduce the concept of Artificial Intelligence (AI). How does AI help clinical diagnosis? Do you perceive any threat to the privacy of the individual in the use of AI in healthcare? ( UPSC Prelims 2023 )

Question 2 : With the present state of development, Artificial Intelligence can effectively do which of the following?

• Bring down electricity consumption in industrial units
• Create meaningful short stories and songs
• Disease diagnosis
• Text-to-Speech Conversion
• Wireless transmission of electrical energy

Select the correct answer using the code given below: ( UPSC Prelims 2020 )

• 1, 2, 3 and 5 only
• 1, 3 and 4 only
• 2, 4 and 5 only
• 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5

Answer: (b)

FAQs on Artificial Intelligence

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is an emerging technology that enables computers and machines to simulate human intelligence and problem-solving capabilities.

What is the difference between Artificial Intelligence, Machine learning and Deep Learning?

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the broad field of creating intelligent systems. Machine Learning (ML) is an AI technique that allows systems to learn from data. Deep Learning (DL) is a specific ML technique inspired by the brain's neural networks.

How do we measure if Artificial Intelligence is acting like a human?

The Turing Test, proposed by Alan Turing, evaluates if an AI system can exhibit human-like responses that are indistinguishable from a real person's responses in a conversational setting.

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UPSC Quotes: Insightful Quotes for Impactful Discourse

Enhance your UPSC Quotes with impactful quotes! Exploring insights on quoting wisdom across categories for a compelling and informed discourse in your Civil Services Exam.

UPSC Essay: Infusing Wisdom with UPSC Quotes for Impactful Discourse

The Union Public Service Commission conducts Civil Services Exams every year which comprise three stages i.e Prelims, Mains, and the Interview. The UPSC Mains exam consists of multiple papers, with the first paper being the Essay paper. Although essay papers should have g ood content, proper structure, and coherency, using UPSC quotes or statements by famous people makes essays more informative and interesting. So in this article, we will put UPSC quotes and famous statements by great people which will make the essay more interesting and more informative.   

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UPSC Essay Excellence: Discourse with Relevance in UPSC Quotes

• Quotes or famous statements which are used in UPSC mains essay paper are pre-defined phrases given by famous authors on some particular issues. Putting appropriate quotations can enhance the quality of essay writing for the UPSC exam. It makes the examiner understand that a candidate has caught the core vision of the essay topic. 
• Effective Use of UPSC Quotes- One thing that should be noted here is that UPSC quotes can be applied in an essay only when they seem relevant, don’t put unnecessary and irrelevant quotes else it can make the essay boring and lose the main idea.

UPSC Essays: The Power of UPSC Quotes for Impact

UPSC Quotes can play a significant role in an essay, serving various purposes and adding depth to your arguments. Here are some reasons why UPSC quotes are important in an essay:

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• Backup Your Points: UPSC Quotes provide proof for what you’re saying. They’re like evidence that supports your ideas, making your essay more convincing.
• Use Expert Opinions: Include UPSC quotes from smart people who know a lot about the topic. This makes your essay stronger because it shows that experts agree with you.
• Make Your Essay Interesting: Good UPSC quote s to grab the reader’s attention and make your essay more interesting. They can be powerful or make people think, adding excitement to your writing.
• Change Up Your Writing Style: UPSC Quotes c an help make your writing more interesting by adding different voices. It’s like having a conversation in your essay instead of just talking the whole time.
• Say Things Clearly: Sometimes, other people say things in a really clear way. If you use their words, it can help your readers understand your point better.
• Look More Trustworthy: Using UPSC quotes from important sources makes your essay seem more trustworthy. It’s like saying, “Hey, even smart people agree with me!”
• Connect to Culture: UPSC Quotes can link your essay to bigger ideas or historical events. This makes your essay more relevant and relatable.
• Help Transition Between Ideas: UPSC Quotes can be like bridges that connect your different thoughts. They make your essay flow smoothly from one idea to the next.

UPSC Essay Insights: Quoting Wisdom Across Categories for Impact

Here are some UPSC quotes by famous people arranged according to the common categories which are asked in the UPSC CSE exam.

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UPSC Quotes FAQs

What is a quote, what is the importance of quotes in an essay, how many quotes should i include in my essay.

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Essay on Artificial Intelligence UPSC

Why is an essay on Artificial Intelligence UPSC relevant? 

Artificial intelligence (AI) has become an increasingly important part of the modern world. Artificial Intelligence is what we can call the stimulation of human intelligence onto machines. In this boom of technological revolution, we are left to wonder if natural intelligence matters anymore.

Quite often AI is misunderstood and misrepresented as something powerful and dangerous. As aware citizens who see the possibility of technology development and innovation through AI, it is essential that we understand what AI really is and isn’t.

Here we will look at artificial intelligence, including how it can be used, the components that makeup AI, and its impact on our daily lives. This article will help you design and write an essay on artificial intelligence UPSC style. The first step to writing an Artificial Intelligence essay UPSC level is to define what AI is.

Read on to familiarize yourself with the term AI. 

Artificial Intelligence (AI): What Exactly Is It?

Ai vs machine learning, what characteristics does ai have, artificial intelligence developments around the world, why artificial intelligence is beneficial, artificial intelligence in india: challenges.

• Ways to Harness AI's Power

FAQs On Artificial Intelligence

What is the 4.0 industrial revolution, is ai the beginning of the industrial revolution 4.0, state 2 examples of ai., what is the future of artificial intelligence, what are the potential risks and concerns with artificial intelligence.

John McCarthy coined the term “artificial intelligence” in 1956 at the Dartmouth conference, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

The most prevalent misconception about artificial intelligence (AI) is that it refers to robots that perform monotonous repetitive tasks and behave like humans.

However, this isn’t quite accurate. The ability of machines (computers) to accomplish cognitive functions usually related to the human brain is referred to as artificial intelligence (AI), like learning, planning, and problem-solving  (in other words, many human intelligence processes)all without any explicit programming from humans or any kind of human interaction!

Now that we have defined and understood what AI is, let us explore what AI does, how it is of use today along with what the future holds in store. We can also show the difference between two technologies in the same domain in our Artificial Intelligence UPSC essay.

Both AI and machine learning go hand in hand. However, their difference is significant. The scope of these two technologies is the fundamental difference between these two advancements of technology.

• Artificial Intelligence(AI) refers to computer systems that can do activities that would ordinarily need human intelligence.
• Machine learning refers to systems that are not explicitly intended for a certain activity but do include some amount of learning.

People frequently confuse which of these two technologies is superior when using them. While deep learning and machine learning are both powerful technologies, the former comprises neural networks that require human intervention to optimize results.

Human specialists determine the hierarchy of features and distinguishing qualities of data in traditional machine learning. To streamline the learning process, humans create labels for the data. Deep learning also relies on labeled data. This way, the system learns to differentiate objects based on their characteristics via a Machine Learning algorithm.

Now we know what AI is and isn’t. This basic knowledge will not suffice for a UPSC-level essay on Artificial Intelligence. To make the examiner understand more about our extent of knowledge in the subject matter, we can also list out features in our Artificial Intelligence UPSC essay.

Also Read: How To Write An Essay In UPSC Mains

Computer programs have a natural tendency to look for patterns and predict the outcome of future situations. As these patterns emerge, computer programs can be categorized as “intelligent.” 

An AI-based system is also capable of learning, which means that it can adapt to new conditions. In addition, it will be capable to integrate changes in its algorithm, allowing it to take more actions based on its learning process.

Ultimately, these systems will become as intelligent as humans, enabling them to become digital assistants and further replace human workers in many industries.

The foundation of AI is built on the notion of human intelligence. AI aims to simulate human cognitive activity by mimicking human behavior. The ability of an artificial system to learn and perform tasks better than humans is a key component of AI.

For example, a robot can use fuzzy logic to solve unfamiliar tasks. Likewise, it can apply knowledge from one domain to another.

While researchers and developers are making great strides in developing AI, there are also plenty of skeptics in the field. The issue of replaceability and unchecked power is a fear that strikes most minds.

Nevertheless, the developments in the Artificial Intelligence field and the discussions it is launching are a must-know for all UPSC aspirants. Discussing current affairs in our Artificial Intelligence UPSC essay can make it stand out and highlight our level of awareness about the subject.

The societal and economic advantages of implemented AI are well-acknowledged around the world.

In contrast to China and Japan, which have allowed existing ministries to adopt AI in their various sectoral areas, many nations have established specialized government offices, such as the Ministry of AI in the United Arab Emirates and the Office of AI and AI Council in the United Kingdom.

While the world is still in its infancy, global developments in AI will be an increasingly important factor for economic growth. China forecasts that artificial intelligence would contribute 26% of its GDP by 2030, while the U.K. estimates that AI will contribute 10%.

France and Japan recently released AI strategies, and the U.K. published an industrial strategy in November. As AI tools improve, we can expect to see these countries continue to push the boundaries of this field.

In addition, NITI Aayog has released National AI Strategy Discussion Paper to provide guidance on the research and development of new and developing technologies. On August 24, 2017, Task forces (i.e., a working group) on artificial intelligence were formed.

Artificial intelligence can add significant value to a wide number of industries around the world, and It is expected to be a significant source of competitive advantage for businesses. Along with the advantages, listing out the challenges can be a good way to steer the Artificial Intelligence UPSC essay forward.

Artificial Intelligence can increase the calculation power of conventional computers. AI processes are usually self-learning, so they can work continuously without any rest. This can greatly increase the competitive edge of a company.

Furthermore, AI can predict the future and anticipate what people will need in a variety of fields. This can help in planning infrastructure and decision-making.

In addition, AI can be programmed to identify threats to human life. It is not yet clear how AI will impact the future of our society, however, it has the capacity to transform the way we live.

Listed below are some of its advantages:

• AI is the only solution to avoid human errors . AI technology isn’t susceptible to human error or discrepancies from human interactions. AI is trained to avoid human errors, allowing it to detect and correct mistakes without human assistance. Unlike human doctors, AI-enabled intelligent machines don’t depend on the mood of their operators, allowing them to focus on solving a particular case instead of focusing on a complex problem. For example, Google’s DeepMind can diagnose severe eye diseases as accurately as world-class doctors. Additionally, it can recommend the best treatment in 94% of cases.
• Another advantage of AI is that it’s highly scalable. Instead of being limited by the human brain, AI can integrate itself with scalable intelligent systems, from cell phones to supercomputers. The scalable nature of AI also allows it to perform tasks of varying complexity. Further, AI can improve the decision-making process thereby increasing productivity. Therefore, companies can benefit from AI for convenience, reducing the time required for data analysis.
• In the Healthcare sector, it is used to provide accurate diagnosis way before the disease reaches its acute phase.
• The use of AI in the education domain is expected to improve access to quality education and improve crowd management . It makes rewarding marks and grading automated and time-efficient.
• AI applications are also advancing the way we live and work , making it easier to manage our cities. For example, artificial intelligence can help improve traffic flow and power balancing, making it easier to monitor power outages. 
• AI is already being used in the retail sector , with applications including personalized suggestions, image-based product search, and customer demand anticipation. AI guarantees smart mobility as well as improved supply chain management and delivery processes. Aside from improving customer service, AI applications can also be beneficial for retailers to monitor and prevent potential problems. It can also detect broken products and defective objects, notifying the responsible person.
• Many industries are integrating AI into their products to improve their performance. In the advertising world, AI is used to track user statistics and to show advertisements relevant to their interests . The manufacturing sector utilizes AI in its intelligent robots to hasten the automation process and better quality control.
• Similarly, in the agricultural community, AI is used to help buyers choose products . AI can also be used to reduce crop losses by building modern machines to provide advisories for sowing or monitor weather and diseases to avoid future mishaps. This in turn will increase crop yield.
• The e-commerce industry is incorporating artificial intelligence to make purchases and communication easier and more efficient.
• Innovations in gaming are also possible through AI . Technological innovation in strategic games like chess where artificial intelligence can control the opponent’s computer and even play the game for them using neural networks is an example of this.

These futuristic innovations and systems are growing in popularity in the market, but only a few professionals are working on building them. For this reason, there is an increasing demand for AI professionals in the market. However, despite the great potential for AI, it is essential to find a job with this skill set to be successful.

We can finish our Artificial Intelligence UPSC essay by listing out the challenge and what we think can be the way forward. This will show the examiner your opinion on the subject and your problem-solving skills.

Implementing AI tools in Indian educational institutions is a challenge, especially in India, where educational institutions often lack data. Most don’t have an ERP in place and thus can’t pull data in a uniform format. Without such data, AI tools cannot accurately predict student performance.

Additionally, the current lack of data sets makes it impossible to create a single repository to train AI models. Consequently, the implementation of AI is slow and difficult.

Regardless of its promise to propel national progress and wealth, AI in India faces several barriers. Listed below are some of the most significant hiccups, which should be solved before the technology is fully adopted and embraced in the country.

• There is a lack of communication and collaboration between many stakeholders which hinders a natural developmental progression.
• Concerns about d ata privacy and security , as well as a lack of formal regulation regarding data anonymization.
• Lack of awareness about AI. The vast majority of Indians have no idea what Artificial Intelligence (AI) is or how it operates, and the benefits it may provide for businesses, governments, and individuals. This is mainly because AI is only just beginning to enter mainstream consciousness in other countries too.
• Difficulty with adoption is a reality. Indian businesses generally lack the resources required to implement AI systems and complex machines. For example, many companies don’t have enough data scientists on their teams to analyze customer data and build algorithms that can predict future events based on historical data sets.
• Another setback is the lack of resources and resource costs . There is a shortage of trained professionals who are proficient in Artificial Intelligence techniques like machine learning and deep learning(a subset of machine learning). As a result, organizations are unable to hire people with relevant skill sets or develop in-house talent quickly enough to keep up with the competition.
• Computing infrastructure is scarce and generates huge costs, making it difficult to build, train, and deploy AI-based services. Despite its rapid growth, cloud infrastructure has limited capabilities.

These were some of the current issues with AI-based systems in India. Let’s look at what can be the best way forward.

Ways to Harness AI’s Power

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AI has many benefits in our everyday lives, but it is not without its downsides. Many observers are concerned that AI will create an unequal share of the benefits and risks of technological advancement. Some countries will benefit greatly from AI, while other countries will suffer as they do not have the same resources as developed nations.

The developing world is also concerned that AI will reduce the demand for labor and natural resources. This could negatively impact the welfare of workers, and ultimately lower equilibrium wages and welfare.

We expect that India’s “AI for All” agenda emphasizes ethical AI and results in large-scale AI solutions in order to make India a larger ecosystem for AI and a dependable country to which the rest of the world may outsource AI-related work. AI systems created in India will help the entire planet.

Many people believe that AI-based applications will take their sweet time to master the human language and control the human race. Yet, AI is developing at an incredibly fast rate, which is causing some people to worry and have nightmares of a robotic army. This powerful technology can easily grow out of control and become too powerful for human use.

The emergence of complete artificial intelligence, according to Stephen Hawkins, may mean the extinction of the human race.

While this technology will undoubtedly benefit humans, it could also endanger society by increasing the wealth gap. Further, AI could be used for nefarious purposes, including autonomous weapons and malicious AI systems. Thus, the use of AI is only a step in a path that is yet to be disclosed.

Taking an ethical yet progressive approach to this social transformation is commendable while writing the essay on Artificial Intelligence in your UPSC exam. Prepare for UPSC with Examarly and to maximize your chances of acing the prelims. Check out Examarly for the best Civil Service study materials. 

How advanced people live and work is changing as a result of revolutionary trends and technology like robotics, the Internet-Of-things (IoT), virtual reality (VR), and artificial intelligence. The fourth industrial revolution is referred to as this. The incorporation of these technologies into industrial procedures is termed “Industry 4.0.”

A number of scientific and technological sectors have seen substantial advancements thanks to artificial intelligence (AI), also referred to as the 4.0 Industrial Revolution.

1. By processing human language rather than computer language, computer software is said to be performing natural language processing  (NLP). Consider spam detection, which determines whether an email is rubbish by examining the subject line and the email’s body. 2. Making a system or a group of processes run without human involvement is known as robotic process automation. Robots can be taught to carry out repetitive, elevated operations that would often be carried out manually, and they differ from IT standardization in that they can change course quickly in response to changing conditions. 

The future of AI is uncertain, but it is likely that it will continue to play an increasingly important role in many aspects of our lives. It may also lead to the development of new technologies and industries, as well as new ethical and societal challenges.

One of the main concerns with AI is the potential for it to automate jobs and increase unemployment. Additionally, there are concerns about privacy and the ethical implications of AI, such as bias and discrimination in decision-making.

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Home » Science & Technology » Robotics » Artificial Intelligence and Robotics

Artificial intelligence is the branch of computer science concerned with making computers behave like humans.

AI refers to the ability of machines to perform cognitive tasks like thinking, perceiving, learning, problem solving and decision making.

Artificial intelligence (AI) refers to the ability of machines to perform cognitive tasks like thinking, perceiving, learning, problem solving and decision making. Initially conceived as a technology that could mimic human intelligence.

AI has evolved in ways that far exceed its original conception. With incredible advances made in data collection, processing and computation power , intelligent systems can now be deployed to take over a variety of tasks, enable connectivity and enhance productivity.

As AI’s capabilities have dramatically expanded, so have its utility in a growing number of fields.

Artificial Intelligence’s exponential growth in recent decade:

• It is embedded in the recommendations we get on our favourite streaming or shopping site; in GPS mapping technology; in the predictive text that completes our sentences when we try to send an email or complete a web search.
• It promises to be even more transformative than the harnessing of electricity. And the more we use AI, the more data we generate, the smarter it gets.
• In just the last decade, AI has evolved with unprecedented velocity from beating human champions at Jeopardy.
• Automation, big data and algorithms will continue to sweep into new corners of our lives until we no longer remember how things were “before”.
• Just as electricity allowed us to tame time, enabling us to radically alter virtually every aspect of existence, AI can leapfrog us toward eradicating hunger, poverty and disease opening up new and hitherto unimaginable pathways for climate change mitigation, education and scientific discovery.

Artificial Intelligence usage can be for better or for worse:

Already, AI has helped increase crop yields, raised business productivity, improved access to credit and made cancer detection faster and more precise .

It could contribute more than $15 trillion to the world economy by 2030, adding 14% to global GDP . Google has identified over 2,600 use cases of “AI for good” worldwide.

A study published in Nature reviewing the impact of AI on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) finds that AI may act as an enabler on 134 or 79% of all SDG targets.

We are on the cusp of unprecedented technological breakthroughs that promise to positively transform our world in ways deeper and more profound than anything that has come before.

Challenges of Artificial Intelligence (AI):

• Artificial intelligence is poised to be one of the biggest things to hit the technology industry (and many other industries) in the coming years.
• But just because it holds enormous potential does not mean it does not also have its challenges.
• And artificial intelligence challenges and possibilities are not small, which is why recognizing and working towards resolutions to problems can help further propel artificial intelligence’s rapid growth.
• According to studies, around 40 % of the total energy that data centres consume goes to cooling IT equipment . Now, to reduce energy consumption, companies are moving their data centres into cooler climates such as Siberia.
• The environmental impact caused by data centres doesn’t stop at electrical consumption.
• Coolants are often made of hazardous chemicals, and battery backups at data centres – needed for when there are power shortages – cause an environmental impact both due to mining for battery components and the disposal of the toxic batteries afterward.
• Countries are passing stricter legislations on data security that require citizen data to be stored on servers located domestically, picking colder climates beyond their borders is becoming a difficult option.
• Robotics and AI companies are building intelligent machines that perform tasks typically carried out by low-income workers: self-service kiosks to replace cashiers, fruit-picking robots to replace field workers, etc.
• Algorithms based on our past digital searches creates and provides us probable solutions or alternatives which we are looking for.

Hence, based on our digital footprints, AI is trying to mimic our preferences and even thought perceptions.

Privacy issues worries:

• AI also presents serious data privacy concerns . The algorithm’s never-ending quest for data has led to our digital footprints being harvested and sold without our knowledge or informed consent.
• We are constantly being profiled in service of customisation, putting us into echo chambers of like-mindedness, diminishing exposure to varied viewpoints and eroding common ground.
• Today, it is no exaggeration to say that with all the discrete bytes of information floating about us online, the algorithms know us better than we know ourselves . They can nudge our behaviour without our noticing.
• Our level of addiction to our devices, the inability to resist looking at our phones, and the chilling case of Cambridge Analytica in which such algorithms and big data were used to alter voting decisions should serve as a potent warning of the individual and societal concerns resulting from current AI business models.
• In a world where the algorithm is king , it behoves us to remember that it is still humans with all our biases and prejudices , conscious and unconscious who are responsible for it . We shape the algorithms and it is our data they operate on.

Artificial Intelligence usage can be double edged sword:

• The study in Nature also finds that AI can actively hinder 59 — or 35% — of SDG targets.
• For starters, AI requires massive computational capacity , which means more power-hungry data centres and a big carbon footprint.
• Then, AI could compound digital exclusion . Robotics and AI companies are building intelligent machines that perform tasks typically carried out by low-income workers: self-service kiosks to replace cashiers, fruit-picking robots to replace field workers, etc.
• Without clear policies on reskilling workers, the promise of new opportunities will in fact create serious new inequalities.
• Investment is likely to shift to countries where AI-related work is already established, widening gaps among and within countries.
• Together, Big Tech’s big four Alphabet/Google, Amazon, Apple and Facebook are worth a staggering $5 trillion , more than the GDPs of just about every nation on earth.
• In 2020, when the world was reeling from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, they added more than $2 trillion to their value.
• The fact is, just as AI has the potential to improve billions of lives, it can also replicate and exacerbate existing problems, and create new ones.

Measures to avoid misusing of Artificial Intelligence:

• Without ethical guard rails , AI will widen social and economic schisms , amplifying any innate biases at an irreversible scale and rate and lead to discriminatory outcomes.
• It is neither enough nor is it fair to expect AI tech companies to solve all these challenges through self-regulation.
• First, they are not alone in developing and deploying AI; governments also do so.
• Second, only a “whole of society” approach to AI governance will enable us to develop broad-based ethical principles, cultures and codes of conduct , to ensure the needed harm-mitigating measures, reviews and audits during design, development and deployment phases.
• To inculcate the transparency, accountability, inclusion and societal trust for AI to flourish and bring about the extraordinary breakthroughs it promises.
• Given the global reach of AI, such a “whole of society” approach must rest on a “whole of world” approach .
• Many countries, including India, are cognisant of the opportunities and the risks, and are striving to strike the right balance between AI promotion and AI governance both for the greater public good.
• NITI Aayog’s Responsible AI for All strategy, the culmination of a year-long consultative process, is a case in point.
• It recognises that our digital future cannot be optimised for good without multi-stakeholder governance structures that ensure the dividends are fair, inclusive, and just.

Conclusion:

The UN Secretary-General’s Roadmap on Digital Cooperation is a good starting point: it lays out the need for multi-stakeholder efforts on global cooperation so AI is used in a manner that is “ trustworthy, human rights-based, safe and sustainable, and promotes peace”.

And UNESCO has developed a global, comprehensive standard-setting draft Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence to Member States for deliberation and adoption.

Agreeing on common guiding principles is an important first step, but it is not the most challenging part.

It is in the application of the principles that the rubber hits the road. It is where principles meet reality that the ethical issues and conundrums arise in practice, and for which we must be prepared for deep, difficult, multi-stakeholder ethical reflection, analyses and resolve . Only then will AI provide humanity its full promise.

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Make Your Note

• Artificial Intelligence
• 23 May 2023
• 18 min read
• GS Paper - 3
• Scientific Innovations & Discoveries
• IT & Computers
• GS Paper - 2
• Government Policies & Interventions

For Prelims: Artificial Intelligence (AI) , Weak AI, Strong AI, Differences Between AI, ML and DL, Types of AI.

For Mains: Indigenization of Technology & Developing New Technology, Awareness in Different Fields, Advantages of AI, Disadvantages of AI, Applications of AI in Different Sectors.

The year 2022 brought Artificial Intelligence (AI) into the mainstream through widespread familiarity with applications of Generative Pre-Training Transformer (GPT). The most popular application is OpenAI's ChatGPT. The widespread interest and fascination surrounding ChatGPT have contributed to its recognition as a prominent example of AI technology among consumers. However, it represents only a small portion of the ways that AI technology is being used today.

What is AI?

• Although there is no AI that can perform the wide variety of tasks an ordinary human can do , some AI can match humans in specific tasks.
• Deep Learning (DL) techniques enable this automatic learning through the absorption of huge amounts of unstructured data such as text, images, or video.

How is Global AI Currently Governed?

• NITI Aayog , has issued some guiding documents on AI Issues such as the National Strategy for AI and the Responsible AI for All report.
• Emphasises social and economic inclusion , innovation, and trustworthiness.
• Outlined a light-touch approach, asking regulators in different sectors to apply existing regulations to AI.
• Published a white paper outlining five principles companies should follow: safety, security and robustness; transparency and explainability; fairness; accountability and governance; and contestability and redress.
• The US released a Blueprint for an AI Bill of Rights (AIBoR), outlining the harms of AI to economic and civil rights and lays down five principles for mitigating these harms.
• The Blueprint, instead of a horizontal approach like the EU, endorses a sectorally specific approach to AI governance, with policy interventions for individual sectors such as health, labour, and education, leaving it to sectoral federal agencies to come out with their plans.
• In 2022, China came out with some of the world’s first nationally binding regulations targeting specific types of algorithms and AI.
• It enacted a law to regulate recommendation algorithms with a focus on how they disseminate information.

What are the Differences Between AI, ML and DL?

• ML algorithms can analyze data, identify patterns, and make predictions based on the patterns they find.
• DL is a subset of ML that uses artificial neural networks to learn from data in a way that is similar to how the human brain learns.

What are the Different Categories of AI?

• It has the potential to benefit society by automating time-consuming tasks and by analyzing data in ways that humans sometimes can’t.
• For example, video games such as chess and personal assistants such as Amazon's Alexa and Apple's Siri.
• They are programmed to handle situations in which they may be required to problem-solving without having a person intervene.
• These kinds of systems can be found in applications like self-driving cars.

What are the Different Types of AI?

• Reactive AI tends to be fairly static, unable to learn or adapt to novel situations. Thus, it will produce the same output given identical inputs.
• Autonomous vehicles , for example, can read the road and adapt to novel situations, even learning from past experience.
• A Turing test is a method of inquiry in AI for determining whether or not a computer is capable of thinking like a human being.
• Self-aware AI: As the name suggests, become sentient and aware of their own existence. Still, in the realm of science fiction, some experts believe that an AI will never become conscious or alive.

What is the Difference Between Augmented Intelligence and AI?

• Augmented Intelligence systems are designed to work alongside humans to improve their ability to perform tasks.
• The goal of Augmented Intelligence, on the other hand, is to enhance human capabilities, by providing them with tools and technologies that can help them make better decisions and solve problems more efficiently.

What are the Applications of AI in Different Sectors?

• Recently, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) issued a guiding document- “The Ethical Guidelines for Application of AI in Biomedical Research and Health care”, which outlines 10 key patient-centric ethical principles for AI application in the health sector.
• Business: AI in the business sector helps optimize operations, enhance decision-making, automate repetitive tasks, improve customer service, enable personalized marketing, analyze big data for insights, detect fraud and cybersecurity threats, streamline supply chain management, and drive innovation and competitiveness.
• IIT Kharagpur has collaborated with Amazon Web Services to develop the National AI Resource Platform (NAIRP) , the future possibilities of which include monitoring eye movement, motion and other parameters for better teaching and learning.
• As demonstrated by ChatGPT, Bard and other large language models, generative AI can help educators and engage students in new ways.
• This is another landmark effort to increase access to justice.
• SUPACE (Supreme Court Portal for Assistance in Court Efficiency): It was recently launched by the Supreme Court of India.
• Cybersecurity/Security: It is used in security and cybersecurity to detect and prevent cyber threats, identify anomalous activities, analyze large volumes of data for patterns and vulnerabilities, enhance network and endpoint security, automate threat response and incident management, strengthen authentication and access control, and provide real-time threat intelligence and predictive analytics for proactive defense against cyber attacks.

What are the Advantages of AI?

• Enhanced Accuracy: AI algorithms can analyze vast amounts of data with precision, reducing errors and improving accuracy in various applications, such as diagnostics, predictions, and decision-making.
• Improved Decision-Making: AI provides data-driven insights and analysis, assisting in informed decision-making by identifying patterns, trends, and potential risks that may not be easily identifiable to humans.
• Innovation and Discovery: AI fosters innovation by enabling new discoveries, uncovering hidden insights, and pushing the boundaries of what is possible in various fields, including healthcare, science, and technology.
• Increased Productivity: AI tools and systems can augment human capabilities, leading to increased productivity and output across various industries and sectors.
• Continuous Learning and Adaptability: AI systems can learn from new data and experiences, continually improving performance, adapting to changes, and staying up-to-date with evolving trends and patterns.
• Exploration and Space Research: AI plays a crucial role in space exploration, enabling autonomous spacecraft, robotic exploration, and data analysis in remote and hazardous environments.

What are the Ethical Considerations of AI?

What are the disadvantages of ai.

• Job Displacement: AI automation may lead to the displacement of certain jobs as machines and algorithms can perform tasks that were previously done by humans. This can result in unemployment and require re-skilling or retraining of the workforce.
• Ethical Concerns: AI raises ethical concerns such as the potential for bias in algorithms, invasion of privacy, and the ethical implications of autonomous decision-making systems.
• Reliance on Data Availability and Quality: AI systems heavily rely on data availability and quality. Biased or incomplete data can lead to inaccurate results or reinforce existing biases in decision-making.
• Security Risks: AI systems can be vulnerable to cyber attacks and exploitation. Malicious actors can manipulate AI algorithms or use AI-powered tools for nefarious purposes, posing security risks.
• Overreliance: Blindly relying on AI without proper human oversight or critical evaluation can lead to errors or incorrect decisions, particularly if the AI system encounters unfamiliar or unexpected situations.
• Lack of Transparency: Some AI models, such as deep learning neural networks, can be difficult to interpret, making it challenging to understand the reasoning behind their decisions or predictions (referred to as the "black box" problem).
• Initial Investment and Maintenance Costs: Implementing AI systems often requires significant upfront investment in infrastructure, data collection, and model development. Additionally, maintaining and updating AI systems can be costly.

What can be the Way Forward?

• Ethical and Responsible AI: It is crucial to prioritize the development and deployment of AI systems that are ethical, transparent, and accountable. This includes addressing biases, ensuring privacy and data protection, and establishing clear regulations and guidelines.
• Continued Research and Innovation: AI is a rapidly evolving field, and ongoing research and innovation are necessary to advance its capabilities further. Investments in fundamental research, such as developing new algorithms and models, can lead to breakthroughs and improved performance.
• Additionally, promoting data sharing and accessibility can foster collaboration and accelerate progress across different domains.
• User-centered design and interfaces that facilitate seamless interaction with AI systems are important considerations.
• Domain-Specific Applications: Identifying and prioritizing specific domains where AI can have a significant impact is key. Tailoring AI solutions to address specific challenges in fields such as healthcare, transportation, finance, and education can yield tangible benefits and drive adoption.
• Encouraging interdisciplinary collaboration and fostering partnerships between academia, industry, and government can further support these efforts.
• International Collaboration and Standards: Collaboration across countries and organizations is essential for sharing knowledge, best practices, and addressing global challenges associated with AI. Establishing international standards and frameworks can ensure interoperability, fairness, and security in the development and deployment of AI systems.

AI has all the ability to surpass human intelligence and can perform any particular task much accurately and efficiently. There is also no doubt that AI possesses immense potential which further helps to create a better place to live in. However, anything in excess is not good and nothing can be matched at par with the human brain.

Therefore, AI should not be used excessively as too much automation and dependent on machines can create a very hazardous environment for the present human mankind and for the next generations to come.

UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Questions (PYQs)

Q. With the present state of development, Artificial Intelligence can effectively do which of the following? (2020)

• Bring down electricity consumption in industrial units
• Create meaningful short stories and songs
• Disease diagnosis
• Text-to-Speech Conversion
• Wireless transmission of electrical energy

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 1, 2, 3 and 5 only (b) 1, 3 and 4 only  (c) 2, 4 and 5 only  (d) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5