“Mentor’s Comments”
- https://www.thehindu.com/
opinion/op-ed/planning-for-a- biosecure-future/ article34806702.ece - In the intro, give brief information about synthetic biology.
- In the body, mention the threat to the security emanating from the use of biology to create the weapons of mass destruction, challenges in pinpointing the origin of such attacks, poor disease surveillance in India, open or porous borders make India more vulnerable to the threats. In the treaties mention the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC) of 1972. In the suggestions mention BTWC Protocol to enhance the transparency of treaty-relevant biological facilities and activities, international measures for monitoring and verification, enhancing disease surveillance capabilities etc.
- Conclude by mentioning that the damage caused by the Covid-19 pandemic should serve as the wake-up call to put in place the adequate measure to deal with the threat of bio-weapons
Comments
28 responses to “Q.3) What are the national security threats posed by synthetic biology to India? What are the treaty and institutional arrangements to deal with the bio-weapons? Suggest the measures to deal with the threats posed by the bio-weapons. (10 marks)”
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Vishal
You can start by defining synthetic biology then move on to writing its double-edged sword nature. (Synthetic biology is a revolutionary technology which can help us manipulate biological organisms and processes for human betterment, especially in treating diseases, by re-engineering cells)
Threats mentioned are good, you can also mention multiplicity of bodies and ministers makes coordination difficult, especially in the absence of an empowered coordinating body.
In the treaties mention the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC) of 1972. This is most important and needs to be mentioned, Australia group and wassenaar are export control regimes, not holistic conventions, wassenaar is more about conventional weapons and dual-use technology.
In the suggestions mention BTWC Protocol to enhance the transparency of treaty-relevant biological facilities and activities, rest of the points are good.
Read some other answers. Keep writing. 🙂
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Subhashree
It will be better if you maintain the sequence of the answer according to the question.
Threats and challenges for India can be mentioned earlier. A way forward or suggestions is missing, you can write that after writing about BTWC 1972.
In the suggestions mention BTWC Protocol to enhance the transparency of treaty-relevant biological facilities and activities, international measures for monitoring and verification, enhancing disease surveillance capabilities, coordination between various ministries is important for India etc
Conclusion is okay.
Read some other answers. Keep writing. 🙂
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Gauri Shankar
Your answer is good, you have mentioned most of the points.
You can mention some of the points of BTWC as well as some deficiencies as that is the most important treaty governing synthetic biology weapons. Specifically mention, while bio-weapons are banned, research for medical and bio-defence purposes are allowed and the line between bio-defence and bio weapon is getting thinner.
In suggestions you can mention 1-2 India specific suggestions also.
Read some other answers. Keep writing. 🙂
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Rahul
It will be better if you maintain the sequence of the answer according to the question.
Threats and challenges for India can be mentioned earlier. A way forward or suggestions is missing.
In the suggestions mention BTWC Protocol to enhance the transparency of treaty-relevant biological facilities and activities, international measures for monitoring and verification, enhancing disease surveillance capabilities, coordination between various ministries is important for India etc
Also BWC and BWTC are same, you can mention in one point only and mention some deficiencies in the treaty too.
Good attempt. Keep writing. 🙂
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Sumita
Well written answer. You have covered almost all points.
Introduction is good, mention about threats to India under a separate subheading. Also, you can add some points like lack of coordination between various ministries and departments in India regarding synthetic biological weapons.
Suggestions are good, can mention 1-2 specifically for India,
Nice attempt. Keep writing. 🙂
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Rajlaxmi
I think you have put the wrong answer here. Please put each answer in respective place for timely review.
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Ankita
It will be better if you maintain the sequence of the answer according to the question.
Threats and challenges for India can be mentioned earlier along with overall threats.A way forward or suggestions is missing.
In the suggestions mention BTWC Protocol to enhance the transparency of treaty-relevant biological facilities and activities, international measures for monitoring and verification, enhancing disease surveillance capabilities, coordination between various ministries is important for India etc
Points mentioned are good.
Nice attempt. Keep writing. 🙂
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Kartikey
Nicely written answer. You have mentioned most of the points.
In India’s case, you can mention, lack of coordination between various departments and ministries as one of the challenges.
Also, write some positives also about BTWC treaty before pointing out the issues. Rest of the points are very good, not much scope to expand in case of a 10 marker.
Keep writing consistently. 🙂
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Sonal
Very good answer, covered all parts of the question adequately. Not much scope of improvement in this answer.
In India’s case, you can mention, lack of coordination between various departments and ministries as one of the challenges.
Also, write some features of BTWC treaty before pointing out the issues.
Keep writing consistently. 🙂
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Shikhar
You can start by defining synthetic biology then move on to writing its double-edged sword nature. (Synthetic biology is a revolutionary technology which can help us manipulate biological organisms and processes for human betterment, especially in treating diseases, by re-engineering cells)
Threats mentioned are good, you can also mention multiplicity of bodies and ministers makes coordination difficult, especially in the absence of an empowered coordinating body.
In the treaties mention the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC) of 1972. This is most important and needs to be mentioned. Rest are good.
Write the answer from a national security approach, more than general health approach.In the suggestions mention BTWC Protocol to enhance the transparency of treaty-relevant biological facilities and activities, international measures for monitoring and verification, enhancing disease surveillance capabilities, coordination between various ministries is important for India etc
Conclusion is okay.
Read some other answers. Keep writing 🙂
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Arpit
Introduction is good, threats are also okay.
Mention the threats and challenges for India’s security emanating from the use of biology to create the weapons of mass destruction, challenges in pinpointing the origin of such attacks, poor disease surveillance in India, open or porous borders make India more vulnerable to the threats, lack of coordination between various departments and ministries etc. Key part of the question, you need to address this.
Treaties mentioned are good, you can mention some features and flaws of BTWC as this is the most important ones, in case of protocols mention the parent treaty to which they are protocols of.
Suggestions and conclusion are good.
Read some other answers and Keep writing. 🙂
@swatantra sir kindly review
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Deepali
Nice attempt. Points are good.
You can mention a different subheading for treaty and institutional arrangements and write some features and flaws of BTWC 1972 there, also mention some flaws in India’s institutional structures- lack of coordination between various departments and ministries, no specific law etc
Also don’t outrightly mention covid 19 as a result of synthetic biology, the origin is still being probed.
Suggestions are good. Try to finish with a concluding statement.
Read some other answers. Keep writing.
4.5/10
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Shivanshu
Nice attempt. You have mentioned most of the points.
Mention some India specific suggestions.
Also no need to use the term Wuhan virus, it might not impress the examiner, also origin of covid is still being probed, you can say that the pandemic has made us realize the importance of installing institutional structures to deal with biological weapons.
Rest of the points are good.
Read some other answers and keep writing consistently. 🙂
Please review sir
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Sushmita
Introduction is good.
Mention some challenges for India which make the threat larger- no integrate disease surveillance structure, huge and dense population, porous borders, lack of coordination between various departments and ministries etc
Also mention some features of BTWC along with flaws. Suggestions are good. Can also mention need to enhance the transparency of treaty-relevant biological facilities and activities, international measures for monitoring and verification etc
Conclusion is fine.
Good attempt. Keep writing. 🙂