Sociology Optional (Agents of Social Change) by Smriti Rao Mishra

Model Answer

Question #1. Evaluate the socio-economic impact of globalization 4.0 and emerging technologies on Indian society.  10 marks (150 words)

Concept/Syllabus Map Topic: Effects of Globalization on Indian society

Sub-topic: Effects of Globalization on Indian society, emerging trends & socio-economic impact

Approach

1. Question is about the Globalization 4.0 and emerging technologies.
2. Tone of the question is straight forward.
3. Introduce by defining the globalization 4.0.
4. Then, mention about the positive socio-economic impact of globalization 4.0 and emerging technologies. Subsequently, mention about the negative socio-economic impact of globalization 4.0 and emerging technologies.
5. Conclude with the forward looking lines.

Hints:

Globalization is a phenomenon driven by technology and the movement of ideas, people, and goods. The most recent stage of globalisation, known as “globalisation 4.0,” is characterised by innovative technologies like artificial intelligence that advance with the boom of information technology.

These innovations shorten distances, dissolve barriers, and unite minds, bringing people from all corners of the world.

Positive Socio-Economic impact

1) Economic Growth: India has been one of the fastest-growing economies in the world, largely driven by globalization 4.0 and emerging technologies. Globalization 4.0 and emerging technologies like AI, IoT, and Blockchain have boosted productivity, innovation, and competitiveness across various industries. According to NASCOM data, AI will contribute $450 billion- to $500 billion to India’s GDP by 2025.

2) Education: Emerging Technologies like AI can be used to create new and advanced learning tools for education and research purposes and can be personalised for specific age groups, regional areas, tribal or for persons with disabilities. Recently a model has been made that can detect autism in children.

3) Agricultural development: Emerging Technologies can help develop smart agricultural prediction models like which pests are affecting the crops, when to irrigate the field, which crops to sow in a certain time by integrating soil health cards data, weather data from IMD, past agricultural records, etc.

4) Mobility: Globalization 4.0 and emerging technologies like AI can be used in the traffic management, automatic challans, CCTV surveillance, smart infrastructure models in the city. This will smoothen the mobility in urban centres and reduce the logistics costs, which stands at 8% of GDP as per NCAER.

5) Healthcare: Globalization 4.0 and emerging technologies like AI can help in early detection and prevention of disease. It can help in predicting healthcare problems like advent of a heart attack, diabetes, cancer, tuberculosis and save some crucial hours and death of a person.

Negative socio-economic implication

1) Income Inequality: While globalization has led to the growth of the middle class, it has also widened the income gap between the rich and the poor. Emerging technologies have further amplified this gap, as those who possess the necessary skills and knowledge have benefitted the most. a. According to Oxfam report, the income of 84% of households in the country declined in 2021, but at the same time, the number of Indian billionaires grew from 102 to 142.

2) Digital Divide: The rapid adoption of emerging technologies has led to a digital divide in India, with urban areas having better access to technology and internet connectivity compared to rural areas. According to 75th round of National Sample Survey, just 14.9 per cent rural households have access to the internet against 42 per cent households in urban areas.

3) Echo chambers: Globalization and cutting edge technologies will lead to creation of Echo chambers where person is exposed to similar kinds of views. The algorithms reduce the exposure to varied viewpoints and thus reducing the tolerance in the society. The recent rise of Mob lynching is result of same echo chambers.

4) Climate change: Emerging technologies like AI, ML requires massive computational capacity which means more power hungry data centers and more carbon footprint. According to IPCC, The average global temperature has increased by a little more than 1° Celsius (2° Fahrenheit) since 1880. New emerging technologies will further add to this rising temperature.

More collaboration is needed between the government and the academia and think how to involve local entities in solving local problems through Globalization 4.0 and new emerging technologies. Thegovernment should try to involve other countries like the Global Partnership in AI that was organised recently and actually looking at the socio-economic dimensional issues to solve the problems.

Question #2. A synergy of digital initiatives and 21st Century skills training is required to reform the education system of India. Elaborate on your answer 15 marks (250 words)

Concept/Syllabus Map Topic: Associated Issues, Poverty and Developmental issues

Sub-topic: New technologies, digital intiatives and reform in education creating employability.

Approach

1. Question is about the synergy of digital initiatives and 21st century skills training.
2. Introduce by giving brief background
3. Further, mention why such synergy is required between digital initiatives and 21st century skills. 4. Conclude with impact of such synergy on the education sector.

Hints:

The Indian education system has traditionally focused on rote learning and memorization. New skills which are very much required in the 21st century are missing in current education system. In today’s rapidly changing world, new skills are essential for success in almost all areas of life, including education, employment, and personal development. New Education Policy tries to establish such synergy in the education sector and emphasises on education through regional languages.

Why synergy of digital initiatives and 21st Century skills training is required

1) Changing demand of the market: The job market is constantly changing and technology-driven careers are becoming more and more popular. Imparting such new skills that are that are in demand in the market will help the students to build good career. Thus it will help India in achieving the demographic dividend.

2) Increased Access: Many of the top-notch teachers, courses and institutions were only accessible for people who live in the city. But technology has diluted the geographical borders. Today, such courses and skills are available even in the rural regions.

3) Assessments, guidance and mentoring: Assessments, guidance and mentoring are some of the areas that have to consider multiple data points at the same point. For humanly impossible to consider multiple variables together. Technology would make assessments, guidance and mentoring people easier and more accurate, thus the right people would reach the right places in life.

4) Personalized learning: Digital technology can enable personalized learning, where students can learn at their own pace and level of understanding. Also Digital technology can be harnessed to impart 21st century skills like critical thinking and problem solving. This will help students to deal with new problems of the society.

5) Tackling Crisis: Pandemic revealed the vulnerabilities of our education system. Pandemic has increased the learning poverty in India. According to the World Bank survey, India’s learning poverty has shot up from 54% (before the pandemic) to 70% (after the pandemic). Thus, the synergy is required between the government, public schools and the private players.

6) Improved teacher training: Digital technology can be used to provide teachers with better training and professional development opportunities. Also digital initiatives should be leveraged to impart the 21st century skills like Emotional Intelligence to the teachers. This will help teachers to better understand the students and interact with them in succinct manner.

7) Quality education: Digital technology can help bridge the gap in access to quality education. By leveraging digital initiatives such as NPTEL, SWAYAM, and E-PG Pathshala, students in even remote areas of the country can access high-quality educational resources. The technology will teach students of the new skills like Adaptability and flexibility as needed by the rapidly changing society.

8) Cost-effective education: Digital technology can make education more cost-effective. For example, e-learning platforms can eliminate the need for physical classrooms and reduce the cost of textbooks, making education more affordable and accessible. Also, such digital technology can teach the students new skills like Creativity and innovation to the students.

9) Addressing discrimination: Thorat Committee revealed that about 69 per cent of the SC/ST students reported that they did not receive adequate support from teachers. Thus, the new skills are required to be given to teachers as well as students. Synergy must be established with digital technology and new skills to address the discrimination. Synergy between digital initiatives and 21st Century skills training is critical to reform the education sector in India. Such synergy will help the Indian students to get the education of global standard and meet the demand of the rapidly changing economy. These reforms in education sector will help the students in getting employment. Such education system will help India to become the Global leader in the field of education.