[Insights Secure – 2018] Daily UPSC Mains Answer Writing Practice: 29 MAY 2018
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LIST of TOPICS (Static)
REVISION TIMETABLE FOR PRELIMS – 2018
General Studies – 1
TOPIC: changes in critical geographical features (including water bodies and ice-caps) and in flora and fauna and the effects of such changes.
Why this question
As the monsoons approach, the horrors of the past few years, when climate change impacted the ability of monsoon to satiate India’s water needs, comes back to light. This is an important worry as droughts, lack of water for irrigation etc create huge economic and social losses. Hence this question
Key demand of the question
The question expects two broad explanations from us
- What is the impact of climate change on monsoons in particular and water availability in general
- What should be the steps to be taken for dealing with this situation
Directive word
Examine – When you are asked to examine, you have to probe deeper into the topic, get into details, and find out the causes or implications if any . Apart from the key demands we have to analyze the steps taken so far and the effectiveness of those steps in dealing with water shortage on account of climate change.
Structure of the answer
Introduction – introduce your answer by explaining the linkage between climate change and monsoon as well as water availability.
Body
- Examine the impact of this acute shortage each year that the monsoon fails. Bring out the impact by discussing it under heads like economic cost, social cost etc
- Examine the steps that have taken in dealing with this situation and effectiveness of these steps. Also bring out whether these are steps are more of the same usual steps being taken or whether these are chosen by analysing the problem and responding accordingly
- Mention the changes that are required in monsoon and water management to ensure that this annual uncertainty is best dealt with.
Conclusion – Mention that as anthropogenic factors start becoming more dominant, the time to prepare ourselves for adapting is now.
General Studies – 2
Topic: Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States
and the performance of these schemes; mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted
for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections.
Why this question
Ayushman Bharat scheme is a recently mooted health scheme that aims to transform the health sector in India. However, without catering to some of the issues plaguing health sector, the scheme will not be successful. The question is related to GS 2 syllabus under the following heading-
Key demand of the question
The question wants us to dig deeper into the issue and find out the problems/ issues with our healthcare system that should be necessarily resolved in order to make Ayushman Bharat scheme a success.
Directive word
Analyse- we have to analyse the present health care system and bring out the important issues which need to be resolved at any cost, in order to achieve the desired aims of the scheme.
Structure of the answer
Introduction– mention the aim of Ayushman Bharat scheme and highlight the key strategy designated to achieve those aims.
Body- Discuss in points, what are the issues faced by present healthcare system and which need to be necessarily resolved.
e.g perennial shortage of infrastructure and human resources at primary levels, particularly in Northern states of India, lack of dedicated resources ( health budget has not been increased), regulation of healthcare sector ( need for bringing transparency in pricing, treatment protocols etc.), problem with cashing out of insurance sum etc.
Conclusion-Bring out a fair, balanced and concise conclusion on the desirability of Ayushman Bharat scheme and highlight the most important reforms which need to be implemented for making the scheme a success.
Topic:Parliament and State Legislatures – structure, functioning, conduct of business,
powers & privileges and issues arising out of these.
Why this question
The PMO has recently mooted the idea of including the score of Foundation Course (FC) in allocating the cadre and service in UPSC civil service exam. However, there are several issues involved. The question is related to GS 2 syllabus under the following heading-
Key demand of the question.
The question wants us to simply highlight and describe in detail about the legal, administrative and other issues associated with the idea of allocating cadres and services based on the combined score of CSE and FC. We have to highlight the issues under different headings separately here.
Directive word
Discuss- we have to be as exhaustive as possible in our answer. We have to write in detail about the legal, administrative and also if there is any other issue involved.
Structure of the answer
Introduction– Mention the normal course followed for service and cadre allocation in CSE.
Also mention the recent proposal.
Body- Discuss in points, under different headings, what are the problems associated with the given idea.
E.g Legal issues- Article 321 which only authorizes UPSC to conduct UPSC exam will be violated, article 316 ( security of tenure of UPSC members) and article 319 ( bars from holding further office) will not be applicable on directors of academies where FC is done.
Administrative issues- Lack of capacity in present academies to conduct FC, Issue with cadre and service allocation in cases where people take EOLs (Extra-ordinary leave) etc.
Other issues- politicization of the process, higher chances of corruption etc
Conclusion– Bring out a fair, balanced opinion on the need to bring reform in the civil services exam and on the desirability of the present idea.
Topic –India and its neighborhood- relations.
Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests
Key demand of the question.
The question wants us to trace the evolution of India-Indonesia relationship- how it started and how it progressed. It then wants us to highlight the present situation which shows the importance/ role of the Indo-pacific in strengthening the relationship.
Directive word
Comment- We have to present our opinion on the key demand of the question. We have to backup our opinion with necessary facts/ arguments/ examples.
Structure of the answer
Introduction- Mention the common colonial oppression faced by the two countries and their common views on colonialism which ultimately led to Bandung conference, an important step towards Non-Alignment.
Body–
- Discuss the issues which led India and Indonesia ignore the relationship.
E.g India-Russia partnership vs Indonesia-US partnership, No shared land border, India’s concentration its northern and western borders neglecting seas, Rise of ASEAN etc.
- Discuss the factor which demands strengthening of the relationship.
E.g rise in economic and population size, dilution of NAM, growing importance of maritime trade and movement, growing contestation over Indo-Pacific region etc.
Conclusion- Briefly discuss further the importance of Indo-Pacific region for both the countries.
General Studies – 3
Topic – transport and marketing of agricultural produce and issues and related constraints
Why this question
NAM has been in news since the present government has come in power as APMC reforms were high on the government agenda, so was e-NAM. It would be an opportune moment for stock taking on the reforms that have taken place in the arena of transport and marketing of agricultural produce.
Key demand of the question
The focus of the question is on establishing the progress that has been made when it comes to creating a truly unified NAM that serves two major purposes – unify agricultural markets so as to deal with the fragmentation of markets and enable efficient price discovery. We have to critically examine the progress that has been made in achieving this. If not, then how to ensure that unified NAM will be a reality.
Directive word
Critically examine – When you are asked to examine, you have to probe deeper into the topic, get into details, and find out the causes or implications if any . When ‘critically’ is suffixed or prefixed to a directive, all you need to do is look at the good and bad of something and give a fair judgement.
Structure of the answer
Introduction – We have to mention that agriculture has been a focus area with promises of doubling farmers income by 2022. Marketing reforms are a crucial piece in that jigsaw puzzle.
Body
- Highlight the issues with agricultural markets
- Highlight what the objective of the present government has been – eNAM and how that would bring in the advantages being talked about in the question
- Also the kind of reforms required in APMC
- The progress in achieving a unified national market needs to be examined – bring out both the hits and misses (latter will be more)
- Thereafter, examine how can we improve the marketing of agricultural produce going ahead
Conclusion – Mention the critical role that unified market will play in improving the status quo of the farmers and how to bring in reforms.
TOPIC: Effects of liberalization on the economy, changes in industrial policy and their
effects on industrial growth.
Key demand of the question
We have to analyze the situation surrounding industrial revolution to understand whether capitalism led to industrial revolution or vice versa. Thereafter, we have to delve deeper into the factors that led to the rise of capitalism.
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.
Examine – When you are asked to examine, you have to probe deeper into the topic, get into details, and find out the causes or implications if any.
Structure of the answer
Introduction – explain capitalism
Body
- As a response to the first part of the question, you have to bring out that changes in economic system, including capitalism did not come about overnight but represented a gradual change in the economic system of the country. Both impacted the other and led to the other
- Mention that intensification of capitalism happened post IR and explain how – factory system, rise in income leading to rise in demand leading to more production and requirement of profit for investment
- Explain the factors that led to the rise of IR – need for land, labour and resources, renaissance leading to geographical exploration etc
Conclusion – Summarize the arguments made above and reiterate your conclusions.
General Studies – 4
Topic:Public/Civil service values and Ethics in Public administration: Status and problems; ethical concerns and dilemmas in government and private institutions; laws, rules, regulations and conscience as sources of ethical guidance; accountability and ethical governance;
7) Discuss some of the ethical issues surrounding a modern police job.(250 words)
Why this question
This question is intended to build your capacity to analyse the ethical aspect of any job/ situation etc. The question is related to GS 4 syllabus under the following heading-
Public/Civil service values and Ethics in Public administration: Status and problems; ethical concerns and dilemmas in government and private institutions; laws, rules, regulations and conscience as sources of ethical guidance; accountability and ethical governance;
Key demand of the question.
The question simply wants us to analyse the life of a police officer/ personnel and bring out the common ethical issues surrounding it.
Directive word
Discuss- we have to write in detail about the ethical issues involved here. We have to be as xhaustive as possible in such type of questions, which ask explicitly demand an answer on certain specific aspect.
Structure of the answer
Introduction– Mention the modern police life- the key areas of work- prevention, investigation, interrogation etc.
Body–
Discuss in points the key ethical issues surrounding the police job.
E.g expectation of high standards in public as well as personal life, upholding law even when you feel the offender should be given lesser punishment/ let free, use of necessary force even in situations where the protests are legitimate etc. You can add further points to your answer.
Conclusion– Bring out a fair and balanced opinion on the positive and negative aspects of police job. You can also suggest some remedies to handle such situations.
