[Insights Secure – 2018] Daily UPSC Mains Answer Writing Practice: 07 JULY 2018
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LIST of TOPICS (Static)
REVISION TIMETABLE FOR PRELIMS – 2018
General Studies – 1
Topic – Part of static series under the heading “ Discretionary powers”
1) Discuss whether the governor enjoys more discretionary powers than the president?(250 words)
Key demand of the question
The question expects us to highlight the Discretionary powers of the president and the governor and examine the extent of both, whether they can be compared and whether one enjoys more discretion than the other.
Directive word
Discuss – This is an all-encompassing directive – you have to debate on paper by going through the details of the issues concerned by examining each one of them. You have to give reasons for both for and against arguments.
Structure of the answer
Introduction – Mention the role that constitution expects the governor and president to play – that of figureheads as highlighted by Dr BR Ambedkar.
Body – Mention the discretionary powers of the president and governor and highlight that while the president enjoys situational discretionary power, the discretionary power of the governor is mentioned in the constitution itself under article 163(2). Discuss whether governors Discretionary powers are at the discretion of the governor or the central government. Discuss SC judgment that governor is not an agent of the centre. In the final part of your answer, mention that several constitutional experts as well as court ruling have emphasized on the fact that discretionary powers should not be exercised in an arbitrary and whimsical manner, on which count governor is more guilty.
Conclusion – Highlight the role that governor and president are expected to play .
General Studies – 2
Topic: Issues relating to development and management of Social sector services relating to
Education
Why this question
The article is very good for understanding the reasons why HECI Bill has been brought in and the challenges therein. Hence this question.
Key demand of the question
The question expects us to highlight the shortcomings of UGC which has led to several commentators welcoming HECI. Thereafter we need to highlight the challenges that are likely to be faced in the coming years as a result of the Bill and the way forward.
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.
Structure of the answer
Introduction – First highlight that why HECI Bill is in the news.
Body
- Elaborate the main features of HECI Bill.
- Examine why it was requires. Here you can mention reports such as Hari Gautam Committee etc to explain why reforming UGC was necessary. These committees had also suggested the creation of HECI
- Explain what the function of HECI is going to be and how is it different from UGC.
- Highlight the main challenges in future as pointed out in both articles
Conclusion – Mention that reforms in higher education sector is the need of the hour and discuss the way forward for smooth implementation and effective outcome.
Topic– Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.
3) Critically examine whether gambling in sports should be allowed?(250 words)
Why this question
The recommendations of Law Commission have set the way for several pathbreaking legislations and this might be another one of such cases and thus needs to be analyzed.
Key demand of the question
The question expects us to critically examine the recommendations of Law commission on legalizing gambling in sports. We need to discuss the pros and cons of such a move and provide a fair and balanced view on it.
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 – Highlight the status quo with respect to gambling in India, particularly in sports.
Body – Discuss the recommendations of Law Commission and highlight the reasons provided behind its recommendations. Discuss the ill effects of such a move, that legalizing it would only provide more opportunity to such people to indulge in newer channels of gambling, lead to risk of fixing, would impact the gullible etc.
Conclusion – mention your fair and balanced opinion and the way forward in your opinion.
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.
4) Critically analyze the performance of National Leprosy Eradication Programme of India.(250 words)
Why this question
India accounts for around 60% of leprosy patients in the world NLEP has played a significant role in decreasing the prevalence of the disease in India but it has also underperformed on various fronts for different reasons. The issue is related to GS- 2 syllabus under the following heading –
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.
Key demand of the question
The question wants us to dig deep into the issue of leprosy in India and write a detailed analysis of the NLEP- its achievements and failures and an overall review of the programme.
Directive word
Critically analyze- the question demands an exhaustive and in depth study of the NLED and bring out its achievements and failures. Then we have to form a personal opinion on the issue.
Structure of the answer
Introduction – mention that India is home to around 60 percent of leprosy patients (don’t use the humiliative word leper). Also write about leprosy disease, its causative agent and main effects.
Body-
- Discuss the achievements of the programme and the salient aspects of the strategy it adopted. E.g decrease in prevalence from more than 5/ 10000 to 0.66/ 10000; elimination of the disease from 34 out of 36 states/UTs etc. also mention the strategy adopted by NLEP- post exposure prophylaxis and the revision in vaccine type; nikusth- web based reporting system for leprosy etc.
- Discuss the problems faced and inadequacies of the programme. E.g focus on eliminating leprosy as a public health problem rather than complete elimination; change of leprosy workers as multipurpose workers with the additional responsibility for HIV; inadequate monitoring and reporting system etc.
Conclusion– give your opinion on the issue and suggest the way forward- sustained and more vigorous efforts, multi-stakeholder approach, upgrading infrastructure, political and social priority etc.
General Studies – 3
Topic– Issues related to direct and indirect farm subsidies and minimum support prices
Why this question
The article discusses the impact of increased MSP on farmers welfare and inflation. This has been a longstanding recommendation and now we need to examine whether it would help our grief stricken farmers improve their situation.
Key demand of the question
The question expects us to analyze whether increasing MSP would address farmers situation and the resultant impact it might have on inflation, when it is already under pressure due to rising crude prices.
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 – Highlight that there has always been a demand for even higher MSP, thinking it would obviate the farmers grievances, now that it has happened we need to analyze how effective it will be.
Body
- Mention the step taken by the government. Highlight that Commission on Agricultural Costs and Prices estimated that costs (calculated on an A2 + FL basis) have risen in a range of 0 to 8%, with a mean increase of 5%, which means that there isn’t such a high corresponding increase in costs.
- Examine the impact that it will have on inflation
- Analyze whether increasing MSP would help alleviate farmers grievances. Mention the shortcomings of MSP such as poor penetration in several parts of the country, effective only for a specific set of crops etc. Also highlight that the farmers do indeed need price support as cost for their produce is getting affected both during surplus and deficit production.
- Discuss an alternative such as Price deficiency payment as suggested by NITI Ayog.
Conclusion – Mention your view on the step taken and the way forward.
General Studies – 4
Topic:Ethics and Human Interface: Essence, determinants and consequences of Ethics in human actions; dimensions of ethics; ethics in private and public relationships.
Why this question
The issue is related to GS- 4 syllabus under the following heading-
Ethics and Human Interface: Essence, determinants and consequences of Ethics in human actions; dimensions of ethics; ethics in private and public relationships.
Key demand of the question.
The question wants us to bring out the difference between professional and personal ethics and also suggest how to resolve the case of dichotomy between the two in real life.
Directive word
Discuss- this is an all-encompassing directive which mandates us to write in detail about the key demand of the question- difference between the two concepts and how to resolve the conflict between the two.
Structure of the answer
Introduction– define personal and professional ethics in 2-3 lines.
Body–
- Discuss the differences between the two in detail. E.g personal vs professional life; more general vs more specific; more amenable to frequent change vs less amenable to frequent change;role of rules and regulations etc.
- Discuss how there can be a conflict between the two and give an example. Then discuss how to resolve situations which involve conflict between the two. Take the help of the article attached to the question and other relevant sources to frame your answer.
Conclusion– based on your discussion form a fair and balanced opinion on the issue.
NOTE:
