[Insights Secure – 2018] Daily UPSC Mains Answer Writing Practice: 26 SEPTEMBER 2018
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LIST of TOPICS (Static)
General Studies – 1
Topic– Part of static series under the heading – “Mechanism of monsoon”
Key demand of the question
The question expects us to list and explain the factors that are responsible for
- Formation of south west monsoons
- Onset of south west monsoons
- Intensity of south west monsoons
Structure of the answer
Introduction – Give a brief explanation of south west monsoon in India.
Body – List and explain the factors that influence the formation, onset and intensity of south west monsoons.
Formation
- Intense heating of Tibetan plateau during summer months
- Permanent high pressure cell in the South Indian Ocean (east to north-east of Madagascar in summer)
Onset
- Above points +
- Subtropical Jet Stream (STJ)
- Tropical Easterly Jet (African Easterly Jet)
- Inter Tropical Convergence Zone
Intensity
- Strengths of Low pressure over Tibet and high pressure over southern Indian Ocean.
- Somali Jet (Findlater Jet)
- Somali Current (Findlater Current)
- Indian Ocean branch of Walker Cell
- Indian Ocean Dipole.
General Studies – 2
Topic : Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and
issues arising out of their design and implementation.
Why this question
This article highlights the significance of this initiative for promoting healthcare in the country and the issues that need to be taken care of to ensure that the scheme is a success. This scheme is very important launched with an objective to improve the status of healthcare in the country and needs to be prepared in detail.
Key demand of the question
The question expects us to explain the details of PMJAY, examine how is it different from the earlier insurance coverage schemes launched by the government. In the latter part, we need to bring out the major challenges that might prove to be an impediment in success of the scheme and how they can be addressed.
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 .
Structure of the answer
Introduction – Explain the status of healthcare in the country with a mention of insurance coverage, OoPE etc.
Body – Explain details about PMJAY. The scheme aims to provide annual health insurance cover of Rs 5 lakh to 10.74 crore beneficiary families i.e. over 50 crore beneficiaries across India. It is touted as world’s largest healthcare scheme. Highlight how the scheme tries to achieve these targets – discuss about national health agency, finances, mention that the scheme is entitlement based etc.
Highlight the major challenges that the scheme might face – of finances, empanelled hospitals, funding and package rates etc.
Conclusion – Discuss how the scheme can be implemented to ensure that such challenges do not pose a problem. By bringing out health deprivation, mention how crucial the success of the scheme is.
Topic– Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.
Why this question
Considering the frequency and magnitude of crimes of sexual nature in the country, registry of sex offenders is being introduced to tackle the problem. The article discusses the issue of creation of sexual offenders registry and the problems therein. Preparing pros and cons for this list would help us prepare this topic for mains.
Key demand of the question
The question expects us to explain what registry of sexual offenders is, bring out both sides of the debate as to why or why not the list would be effective in tackling crimes, your view on effective the registry would be and give the way forward.
Directive word
Critically 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 ‘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 – Explain what is this registry.
Body – Bring out pros and cons of having a registry of this nature. In pros, one can mention data related to crimes of sexual nature, the consistently poor ranking of India when it comes to countries which are safe for women etc. Highlight the issues as discussed in the article mentioned above. Discuss some of the alternate solutions that are there for the same purpose – such as effective implementation of justice Verma committee report, bringing in police reforms etc.
Conclusion – Give your view on how effective creation of such a registry would be for tackling crimes and discuss the way forward.
Topic– India and its bilateral relations.
Why this question
The article discusses the political developments in Maldives over the course of last year and the implications that the results have for India. India’s relations with Maldives had taken a dip due to China factor and the decision of the previous Government under President Yameen. This question would help you prepare the evolution of India’s relationship with Maldives over the course of past year and the future prospects of the relationship.
Key demand of the question
The question expects us to bring out the following
- Reasons why India’s relationship with Maldives took a dip
- The current election in Maldives which has provided a sliver of opportunity for India to reset it’s ties with Maldives
- The implications of the recent election results for India
- Way forward for India Maldives relationship
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 .
Structure of the answer
Introduction – We need to give an overview of India Maldives relationship by bringing out the macro picture. Also mention that the recent election results have led to hopes of a reset.
Body
- mention in brief the reason why India Maldives relationship has taken a hit off late – explain president Yameen’s decision to side with China by shiting from an India first policy to China first policy, his unilateral action undermining judiciary and democracy in Maldives etc
- Highlight the hit that Maldives relationship with India took as a result of these actions.
- Discuss the implications of the recent Victoria of opposition in elections in Maldives. Here we need to highlight the strategic significance of Maldives, how important it is as a country for India to remain in control of Indian Ocean region, also that China has been steadily putting into action its strategy of boxing India in south Asia, and India needs good relations with its neighbours
Conclusion – Give your view on how significant the recent election would be for the future of India Maldives relationship and discuss how India should go ahead on building this relationship.
General Studies – 3
Topic– Disaster management
Why this question
The alacrity with which the world is faced with so many natural disasters means that disaster management is to be focussed upon. The lessons learnt from Kerala etc needs to be understood in detail and incorporated in our disaster management policy response.
Key demand of the question
The question expects us to bring out the what a holistic process of disaster response incorporates, from preparation to response to rehabilitation and rebuilding. All these discussions have to be done in the context of the lessons learnt from the recent disasters that have hit India and other parts of the world.
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 .
Structure of the answer
Introduction – Highlight that the magnitude and intensity of natural disasters has increased across the world.
Body
- Explain the concept of Total Disaster Risk Management (TDRM) Approach part of Hyogo framework. This approach emphasises that the natural disasters are not natural, but rather man-made disasters are the consequences of natural hazards and human actions or inactions. Thus, the human societies have the capacity to recognize the risks and factors that could lead or cause disasters, as well as the appropriate interventions to control or manage them. In other words, disasters can be prevented or, at least, their destructiveness minimized.
- Highlight the lessons that can be learnt from disasters such as the floods in Kerala etc and how can they be incorporated in out disaster management strategy for better results.
Conclusion – Emphasize on the losses both economic and in terms of lives etc that have to be mitigated for which a more effective disaster response and preparation strategy is required.
Topic – Part of static series under the heading – ‘National Income – GDP vs GVA’
6) Explain what is GDP and GVA and how are they useful in growth calculation?(250 words)
Key demand of the question
The question expects us to explain what GDP and GVA are and how are they useful in calculation of growth of a country.
Structure of the answer
Introduction – Explain what GDP and GVA is. GVA is measure of total output and income in the economy. It provides the rupee value for the amount of goods and services produced in an economy after deducting the cost of inputs and raw materials that have gone into the production of those goods and services. It also gives sector-specific picture like what is the growth in an area, industry or sector of an economy. GDP is the economic output from the consumers’ side. It is the sum of private consumption, gross investment in the economy, government investment, government spending and net foreign trade
Body – Explain how GDP differs from GVA. While GVA gives a picture of the state of economic activity from the producers’ side or supply side, the GDP gives the picture from the consumers’ side or demand perspective. Both measures need not match because of the difference in treatment of net taxes.
Explain how they are useful for calculation of growth. A sector-wise breakdown provided by the GVA measure can better help the policymakers to decide which sectors need incentives/stimulus or vice versa. Some consider GVA as a better gauge of the economy because a sharp increase in the output, only due to higher tax collections which could be on account of better compliance or coverage, may distort the real output situation.Mention the new method of calculation of GDP introduced in 2015.
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