[Insights Secure – 2019] Daily UPSC Mains Answer Writing Practice: 18 January 2019
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INSIGHTS NEW SECURE – 2019: YEARLONG TIMETABLE
Tomorrow’s Static Topic: India and its neighbourhood- relations
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
The article discusses the provisions of the anti lynching law brought by Manipur and how it sets an example for the rest of the country. In light of the recent incidents of lynching, the article emphasizes on the need of such a law and how it would help in bringing such criminals to book.
Key demand of the question
The question expects us to establish the need of such a law, discuss the key provisions of it and thereafter analyze how this law would help in bringing the perpetrators of such hate crimes to book and the issues involved therein.
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 – Highlight the recent incidents of lynching which necessitate such a law.
Body
- Discuss about the dangers caused by lynching to India’s pluralist social fabric and how such hate crimes need to be curbed.
- Discuss the directions of supreme court with respect to anti lynching laws – court felt compelled to act in the shadow of four years of surging hate violence targeting religious and caste minorities. It also urged Parliament to consider passing a law to combat mob hate crime.The Union and most State governments have done little to comply with the directions of India’s highest court. But Manipur became the first to pass a remarkable law against lynching.
- Examine in detail the provisions of the law and the issues involved therein
- The Manipur law closely follows the Supreme Court’s prescriptions, creating a nodal officer to control such crimes in every State, special courts and enhanced punishments.
- definition of lynching is comprehensive, covering many forms of hate crimes. These are “any act or series of acts of violence or aiding, abetting such act/acts thereof, whether spontaneous or planned, by a mob on the grounds of religion, race, caste, sex, place of birth, language, dietary practices, sexual orientation, political affiliation, ethnicity or any other related grounds
- However it does not cover individual hate crimes
- first in the country dealing with the protection and rights of vulnerable populations which creates a new crime of dereliction of duty of public officials. It lays down that “any police officer directly in charge of maintaining law and order in an area, omits to exercise lawful authority vested in them under the law, without reasonable cause, and thereby fails to prevent lynching shall be guilty of dereliction of duty” and will be liable “to punishment of imprisonment of one year, which may extend to three years, and with fine that may extend to fifty thousand rupees”. Etc
- Discuss the impact of such a law and what more needs to be done by the other states
Conclusion – Give your view and discuss the way forward.
Topic–Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Human Resources
Why this question
It has been 4 years since skill India mission has been launched and the problem that it tried to resolve with respect to employment remains. There is a need to assess the provisions of the skill India mission and discuss the way forward.
Key demand of the question
The question expects us to analyze the scope, objective and provisions of the skill India mission, assess its achievement so far and examine whether the mission requires a course correction better achieve its aims. Finally, we need to provide a fair and balanced conclusion and discuss the way forward.
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 – Highlight that it has been 4 years since the mission was introduced and discuss its objectives.
Body
- Explain the measures taken so far under skill India mission
- introduced the National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF). This organises all qualifications according to a series of levels of knowledge, skills and aptitude, just like classes in general academic education.
- Establishes Sector Skill Councils (SSCs) anchoring skill courses
- Discuss the result of these measures and the reforms required
- need for more holistic training and the need to re-examine the narrow, short-term NSQF-based NSDC courses to include skills in broader occupation groups, so that trainees are skilled enough to compete at the international level
- unlike for general academic education, which requires the completion of certain levels of certification before further progression is permitted, there is no clear definition of the course curriculum within the NSQF that enables upward mobility.
- There is no connection of the tertiary level vocational courses to prior real knowledge of theory or practical experience in a vocational field, making alignment with the NSQF meaningless.
- Efforts to introduce new Bachelor of Vocation and Bachelor of Skills courses were made, but the alignment of these UGC-approved Bachelor of Vocation courses was half-hearted.
- There is no real alignment between the Human Resource Development Ministry (responsible for the school level and Bachelor of Vocation courses) and the Ministry of Skill Development (responsible for non-school/non-university-related vocational courses)
- Discuss the course correction required by bringing out the recommendations of Sharda Prasad committee
Conclusion – Give your view and discuss the way forward.
Topic– India and its neighbourhood- relations
Key demand of the question
The question expects us to explain status quo with respect to SAARC, analyze the reasons for its abject failure , the impact of poor performance of SAARC in achieving regional aspirations. Discuss alternatives to SAARC which India can leverage for boosting regional integration and development.
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 about SAARC and the status quo of SAARC.
Body
- Discuss the reasons why issues cropped up in SAARC.
- Asymmetry in the members
- India Pakistan tension
- Individual identities of nation are still strong and they are not willing to subsume that in collective identities
- Failure of SAFTA etc
- Discuss the common interests that could have been attained through a regional organization like SAARC.
- Highlight that India is looking at other options to regional integration apart from SAARC such a BIMSTEC etc to achieve such regional aspirations.
Conclusion – Give your view and discuss way forward.
Topic: India and its neighbourhood- relations
Key demand of the question
The question expects us to first bring out the criticism often resorted to by India’s neighbours such as Nepal, Sri Lanka etc of India acting as a big brother. Discuss the reasons why such a view is held by these countries and thereafter delve deep into India’s actions with respect to its neighbours to evaluate whether these claims are actually true.
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 – Highlight that India’s neighbours have often called out India for its big brotherly attitude.
Body
- Discuss the reasons why such a charge is levelled against India – you can point out the recent standoff in Nepal wrt Madhesi agitation, charges that India interferes in the domestic policies of the country, the disproportionate size and power of India in comparison to her neighbours
- Highlight what India’s policies with respect to her neighbours has been – you can talk about the gujral doctrine and how that doctrine governs India’s foreign policy in her neighbourhood.
- Bring out the instances which counter the claim that India acts as a big brother
- Talk about the indus water treaty with Pakistan
- Sharing of water with bangladesh
- treaty of peace and friendship with Nepal and Bhutan etc
- Discuss what India needs to do to see correct these perceptions
Conclusion – Give your view and discuss the way forward.
General Studies – 3
Topic: Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life
Why this question
As India becomes increasingly digital and its population grows gradually, it is poised to become the top destination/ focus of intention of technology companies. However, India also poses several unique challenges to such companies. It is therefore essential to discuss thise opportunities and challenges.
Directive word
Comment- here we have to express our knowledge and understanding of the issue and form an overall opinion thereupon.
Key demand of the question.
The question wants us to express our knowledge and understanding of the Indian society and economy in general and express our opinion as to how although it is a lucrative destination for technology companies, it poses several unique challenges to them.
Structure of the answer
Introduction– Write a few introductory lines about India. E,g mention the population size, growth predictions and also the size of the economy and its growth predictions.
Body-
- Discuss how India is an important and lucrative destination for tech companies. E.g
- Burgeoning population.
- Growing online presence of the population.
- Governments stress on adoption of technology- Digital India.
- Skilled workforce.
- A huge and growing digital market etc.
- Discuss the challenges posed by it. E.g
- Rural India- which demands applications and technologies to be compatible with local languages, low economic status of the people and low costs.
- Urban India- which demands adherence to privacy concerns, protection of the content and platforms from nefarious groups/ persons etc.
- Populism- which can lead to sudden and unexpected policy decisions.
- Protectionism- in various forms like the one provided to domestic industry etc.
Conclusion- based on your discussion, form a fair and a balanced conclusion on the given issue.
Topic- Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation.
Why this question
India with its huge population and imperative development needs is placed in a precarious situation. In this context it is important to discuss the intensity and severity of climate change being witnessed in the country.
Directive word
Discuss- this is an all-encompassing directive which mandates us to write in detail about the key demand of the question. we also have to discuss about the related and important aspects of the question in order to bring out a complete picture of the issue in hand.
Key demand of the question.
The question wants us to write in detail about the global warming and associated effects being witnessed in India. We have to present some statistics related to the previous year in order to present an overall picture.
Structure of the answer
Introduction– write a few introductory lines about the global warming being witnessed these years. E.g According to the IMD, 11 of the 15 warmest years were during the recent past fifteen years (2004-18).
Body-
Discuss further about the global warming being witnessed in India. E.g
- The rate of increase of temperatures over India is almost similar to the global average.
- With the increase in temperatures, more and more extreme weather events are expected to be experienced.
- During 2018, the IMD said the annual mean surface air temperature averaged over the country was +0.410°C above the 1981-2010 average.
- However, this was “substantially lower” than the highest warming observed over India in 2016, which was +0.720°C.
- The winter and pre-monsoon seasons, with an anomaly of +0.590°C and +0.550°C respectively, “mainly contributed to this warming” seen in 2018.
- “Mean temperature during the monsoon and post-monsoon seasons (with anomaly of +0.260°C, and +0.310°C respectively) were also above normal.
- Temperatures are increasing during both day and night time. Heat waves are increasing in frequency as well as magnitude.”
- As a consequence, “extreme rainfall and rainstorms which can cause floods are increasing. Dry spell duration is also increasing”.
- Apart from the six cyclonic storms that formed over the northern Indian Ocean, India experienced several “high impact weather” events.
- These were extremely heavy rainfall, heat and cold waves, snowfall, thunderstorms, dust storms, lightning and floods.
- “Uttar Pradesh was the most adversely affected state during the year which reported near 600 deaths due to cold waves, thunderstorm, dust storm, lightning and floods.
- Flood and heavy rain related incidents reportedly claimed over 800 lives from different parts of the country etc.
Conclusion- based on your discussion, form a fair and a balanced conclusion on the given issue.
General Studies – 4
Topic– Ethics and Human Interface: Essence, determinants and consequences of Ethics in human actions;
7) What are the factors influencing ethical behaviour. Discuss.(250 words)
Lexicon Ethics; Ethics and Human Interface
Directive word
Discuss- this is an all-encompassing directive which mandates us to write in detail about the key demand of the question. we also have to discuss about the related and important aspects of the question in order to bring out a complete picture of the issue in hand.
Key demand of the question.
The question wants us to write in detail about the factors that influence ethical behaviour of a person, system and society.
Structure of the answer
Introduction– write a few introductory lines about ethics. E.g briefly define what ethics means- Ethics is a set of standards that a society places on itself and which helps guide behaviour, choices and actions.
Body-
Discuss in points the factors which influence ethical/ unethical behaviour. E.g
- Individual personality traits: individual value system, upbringing, education, religious beliefs, experiences, etc,
- Culture/country of an individual.
- Organisation/industry: prevailing ethics of the organisation/ industry an individual works for.
- The levels of ethics in governance are dependent on the social, economic, political, cultural, legal- judicial and historical contexts of the country.
- These specific factors influence ethics in public administrative systems.
- Ethics, whether in an entire society, or in a social sub-system, evolves over a long period of time etc.
Also give appropriate and innovative examples to explain your answer in a more lucid way.
Conclusion– based on your discussion, form a fair and a balanced conclusion on the given issue.
Topic– Human Values.
8) What do you understand by intrinsic and extrinsic values. Discuss.(250 words)
Lexicon Ethics; Ethics and Human Interface
Directive word
Discuss- this is an all-encompassing directive which mandates us to write in detail about the key demand of the question. we also have to discuss about the related and important aspects of the question in order to bring out a complete picture of the issue in hand.
Key demand of the question.
The question wants us to write in detail about the meaning and scope of internal values as well as external values.
Structure of the answer
Introduction- Write a few introductory lines about the meaning and scope of values. E.g Values are the individual principles or qualities that guide judgement and behaviour of a person or a group. Values can be viewed from the standpoint of their importance. All values are experiences of different degrees of importance in the development of individuality.
Body-
- Discuss about the intrinsic values. E.g
- An intrinsic value is one which has worth in its own right.
- It is an End- in-itself.
- Truth, Beauty, Goodness, Temperance, Courage, etc. are considered as intrinsic values.
- They are good not because of their consequences but because they are good in themselves etc.
- DIscuss about the extrinsic values. E.g
- An Extrinsic value is one which is a means to some other value.
- It is of instrumental worth only.
- Extrinsic or Instrumental values are the part of larger whole. They are means to an End.
- Wealth,Fame, physical fitness, etc. borrow their worth from something extraneous to them etc.
Also mention that the terms Extrinsic and Intrinsic are used relatively. They are not always mutually exclusive or fixed. What is valued by one person for its own sake may be valued by another person as a means to an end.
Conclusion– based on your discussion, form a fair and a balanced conclusion on the given issue.
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