[Insights Secure – 2018] Daily UPSC Mains Answer Writing Practice: 03 MAY 2018
Click on EACH question to post/upload you answers.
How to Follow Secure Initiative?
How to Self-evaluate your answer?
LIST of TOPICS (Static)
REVISION TIMETABLE FOR PRELIMS – 2018
General Studies – 1
TOPIC:Salient features of Indian Society
Why this question
Recently, there are have been a lot of agitations by certain sections particularly dalits. SC has also given a judgment that has polarized opinions. Reservation is an ongoing issue that continues to divide sections of Indian population. This it’s important to analyze whether we have managed to get rid of our casteist mindset.
Key demand of the question
Following issues have to be discussed in this question
- The policies which are being talked about
- The impact of those policies in the context being asked in the question
- Whether those policies have accentuated or motivated caste discrimination
- The levels of discrimination faced on the basis of caste
Directive word
Analyze – When asked to analyze, you have to examine methodically the structure or nature of the topic by separating it into component parts and present them as a whole in a summary. When you are asked to analyze, you have to examine each part of the problem which in this case is caste identity is still strong despite affirmative action policies.
Structure of the answer
Introduction – Mention the nature of society in India where caste identities have been strong right since the beginning.
Body
- The policies of the government and the provisions of the constitution that would come under the category of affirmative action like reservation of seats in education, employment etc, FR against discrimination, constant review by govt etc
- Whether these policies have made the dent expected of them. Discuss under various heads like constitutionally, legally, economically. We have to examine whether discrimination or reverse discrimination happens as a result of these heads
- Whether reservation has polarized public opinion and made caste identity stronger
- Whether laws protecting dalits have been misused
- Etc
- Examine the levels of discrimination faced by the dalits in economic, social etc fields.
Conclusion – mention the goal of an egalitarian society and how we can move towards it.
Topic: Modern Indian history from about the middle of the eighteenth century until the
present- significant events, personalities, issues.
Key demand of the question
The main focus of the question is on understanding how the economic exploitation of India was carried through the provisions of the regulating act.
Directive word
Evaluate – When you are asked to evaluate, you have to pass a sound judgement about the truth of the given statement in the question or the topic based on evidences. You have to appraise the worth of the statement in question. There is scope for forming a personal opinion here.
Structure of the answer
Introduction – explain the regulating acts, the purpose they were designed for and other details
Body
- Explain the views of scholars like dada bhai Naoroji etc who had explained how British policies were designed to exacerbate economic exploitation of India.
- Mention the provisions of the regulating acts which led to economic exploitation of India
- Mention facts and figures of trade like export and import data, share of India in world trade in general and textile trade in particular, absence of industries in India etc
Conclusion – Mention your view on the veracity of the above statement.
General Studies – 3
Topic: Investment models. Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life Achievement of Indians in science & technology; indigenization of technology and developing new technology.
Why this question
Recently TRAI gave approval of deploying mobile communication on aircraft (MCA) and onboard connectivity (OBC) on all class of air-flights. This will have huge benefits for businesses and consumers alike. However, there is a difference between the two and there are certain issues involved. The question is related to GS-3 syllabus under the following heading- Investment models. Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life Achievement of Indians in science & technology; indigenization of technology and developing new technology.
Key demand of the question.
The question wants us to give a brief description of the two given technologies, their benefits and also discuss various concerns regarding their deployment and use.
Directive word
Discuss- we have to write in length about all the core demands of the question- description of terms, discussion on benefits and concerns involved.
Structure of the answer
Introduction- mention the recent TRAI approval for mobile communication on aircraft (MCA) and onboard connectivity and also the concerned ministries welcome of the approval.
Body-
- Describe MCA (be brief and concise)
- Describe OBC
- Discuss the benefits under two subheadings;consumers and businesses.
- Discuss the concerns revolving around them. E.g 3000 metre restriction for MCA, need for a satellite gateway in order to allay India’s security apprehensions, lack of regulations, noise pollution etc.
Conclusion- present your conclusion for the given technologies in the form of an approval but with certain safeguards.
Topic:Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc.
Why this question
India achieved universal electrification when Leisang village in the Senapati district of Manipur, the last unelectrified village of India was electrified. However, there are several more challenges ahead that need to be overcome to provide meaningful electricity to all the Indian population. The question is related to GS-3 syllabus under the following heading-
Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc.
Key demand of the question
The question wants us to discuss why even after overcoming the gargantuan task of electrifying all villages in India, a lot more needs to be done in order to provide a meaningful access to electricity in India.
Directive word
Comment- we have to delve deep into the issue and make our opinion on the need of sustained efforts in order to provide access to affordable power to every Indian household. We have to support our opinion with the help of valid and proper arguments/ facts/ examples.
Structure of the answer
Introduction- mention the universal electrification feat and Lesiang village in Manipur, the last Indian unelectrified village which was recently electrified.
Body- discuss in points, why there is a lot more to be done in order to provide affordable continuous power to every Indian household. e.g
- Discuss the flaws in the very definition of electrification and how it is not inclusive and does not capture the whole picture.
- Inter-regional disparities in power availability and consumption.
- Rural- urban disparity in power consumption.
- Problems in relying on renewable sources only.
- Anticipated increase in demand of electricity in future etc.
Conclusion- provide a concise conclusion in 2-3 lines, on what should be the way forward e.g hybrid projects, cheaper renewables etc.
Topic – changes in industrial policy and their effects on industrial growth.
Why this question
Improving Ease of Doing Business is a major focus of the government. Labour reforms are an essential reform agenda pending since long considering the political sensitivity of the issue. In this light, the proposed labour reforms need to be discussed and examined whether they would help in facilitating business.
Key demand of the question
The question asks us to critically examine whether the proposed labour reforms would help achieve the purpose mentioned in the question. Thus the following points need to be discussed.
- The contents of the proposed reforms
- The pros and cons of the reforms
- The labour reforms required to improve EODB
Directive word
Critically examine – Here one has to examine the various labour reform measures undertaken by the government to see whether they help improve EODB. Since critically is prefixed, we also have to provide our opinion on the issue and mention a way forward.
Structure of the answer
Introduction – Discuss the importance of labour reforms and the attempts of the government to bring a minimum wage code.
Body
- Discuss the various steps taken by the government which can be categorised as labour reforms – wage code bill, amended the Industrial Establishment (Standing Order) 1946, amendments in Contract Labour Act and the Factories Act etc
- Examine the reforms to figure out whether or not they will facilitate business. You may also mention other benefits or harms of the steps.
- Provide your opinion
Conclusion – Mention the importance of bringing in comprehensive labour reforms and suggest how to go about it broadly.
General Studies – 4
TOPIC : Information sharing and transparency in government, Right to Information, Codes of Ethics, Codes of Conduct, Citizen’s Charters, Work culture, Quality of service delivery, Utilization of public funds, challenges of corruption. Case Studies on above issues.
Why this question
Work culture is an important determinant of performance, desirability and success/ failure of an organization. It has an important bearing on employee-employee and employee-consumer relationship. It is desirable to instill and nurture an ethics based culture in an organization. The question is related to GS-4 syllabus under the following heading-
Information sharing and transparency in government, Right to Information, Codes of Ethics, Codes of Conduct, Citizen’s Charters, Work culture, Quality of service delivery, Utilization of public funds, challenges of corruption. Case Studies on above issues.
Key demand of the question.
The question wants us to simply discuss the role and importance of work culture in the overall functioning and performance of a company/ organization. It then wants us to chart out a strategy to create a culture of ethics in an organization.
Directive word
Examine- we have to write in detail along with explanations in support of our answer.
Discuss- we have to write in length about a general strategy that could be adopted for creating a culture of ethics in an organization.
Structure of the answer
Introduction- describe work culture in 1-2 lines.
Body–
- Discuss the importance of work culture in determining the performance of the employees and how it impacts their ethical compliance.
- Discuss how to instill and nurture ethical values and ensure their compliance in an organisation. you have to discuss the strategy in a coherent and chronological order. You can take help from the below article and modify the steps as per your own understanding and demand of the question.
conclusion– bring out a concise, fair judgement of ethical values in any organisation. or you can mention the challenges involved in realizing the ethical compliance in an organization.
