MAINS 2016
GS2
12.5 marks
What are the aims and objectives of the McBride Commission of UNESCO? What is India’s position on these?
WRITE IN
9 min
200 words
What the examiner wants
Explain the MacBride Commission's aims and India's stance on them.
What areAnswer exactly what the question asks.
Demand-wise check
- 1Aims: study global communication problems; correct imbalance in news flow from North to South; democratise communication; New World Information and Communication Order (NWICO)≈35 words
- 2Report: 'Many Voices, One World' (1980); recommendations on media freedom, independent national news agencies≈35 words
- 3India's position: supported NWICO with NAM; set up NAM News Agencies Pool; stood for balanced flow while protecting press freedom≈35 words
- 4Relevance today: digital platforms and disinformation≈35 words
Open in about 30 words and close in about 30.
Answer plan
OriginAimsReportIndia's rolePresent relevance
Where marks usually go
- Not knowing it relates to communication and media
- Missing India's NAM-led role
Draw this
- Flow diagram of information from global North to South
Value addition
- ReportMacBride Commission (set up 1977, chaired by Sean MacBride) published 'Many Voices, One World' in 1980.UNESCO
- EventUS (1984) and UK (1985) left UNESCO, partly over the NWICO debate.UNESCO history
- ExampleNAM News Agencies Pool (1976) was coordinated initially by Yugoslavia's Tanjug; India's PTI was an active participant.NAM
Next: plan for one minute, write it in 9 minutes, then get it checked.