Using the debate topic “Is living like most people the easier path?” as her starting point, Pang Ying examines how the singular standards of society’s value system can quietly confine us. Conforming to the mainstream may feel effortless, but it often traps us in a one-size-fits-all measure of worth—stripping away our right to define life’s meaning for ourselves. She argues that what exhausts us is not survival itself, but the mental weight of meaninglessness and self-limitation. Pang urges her audience to r ...

Career and Service - The speaker shares his journey of joining the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), driven by a desire to serve society and contribute to the nation's development [3][4] - The speaker emphasizes the importance of character and values in public service, drawing inspiration from the motto of the IAS academy: "Sheelam Param Bhushanam" (Character is the highest virtue) [5] - The speaker highlights the significance of courage and resilience in overcoming challenges and making a positive impact, citing examples from his own experiences and the stories of inspiring figures like Captain Manoj Pandey [2][4] Administrative Challenges and Solutions - The speaker recounts his experiences as a young IAS officer dealing with unexpected situations, such as farmers' protests and law and order crises, emphasizing the importance of adaptability and human connection in resolving conflicts [3][4] - During the COVID-19 pandemic, the speaker played a crucial role in managing the crisis in his district, focusing on providing assistance to those in need and coordinating resources across different states [4][5] - As Municipal Commissioner of Lucknow, the speaker faced the challenge of solid waste management and worked towards transforming the city into a zero-waste zone by processing legacy waste and improving waste management infrastructure [5][7] Urban Development and Sustainability - The speaker discusses the importance of sustainable urban development, highlighting initiatives such as water conservation through the reuse of treated wastewater and air quality improvement through afforestation [7] - The speaker emphasizes the scale of operations in Lucknow, with a population of 45 million and an area of 621 square kilometers, requiring innovative solutions to address urban challenges [6] - Lucknow generates 2,000 tons of waste daily, requiring significant efforts for processing and management, with the goal of achieving zero waste status by processing all 2,000 tons daily [7] - Lucknow uses 770 million liters per day (MLD) of water, emphasizing the need for efficient wastewater treatment plants (STPs) to conserve water resources [7]