[Insights Secure – 2019] Daily UPSC Mains Answer Writing Practice: 04 March 2019
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INSIGHTS NEW SECURE – 2019: YEARLONG TIMETABLE
Tomorrow’s Static Topic: The Freedom Struggle – its various stages and important contributors /contributions from different parts of the country.
General Studies – 1
Topic– The Freedom Struggle – its various stages and important contributors /contributions from different parts of the country.
Bipin Chandra, India’s Struggle for Independence
Why this question:
The question is in the background of Civil disobedience movement and its impact on the provinces of India viz. Peshawar, Gujarat, Bihar, Bengal and others. One is expected to discuss nuances of how CDM lead to Peasant movement in India.
Directive word:
Explain – It means to bring out things clearly, by giving a detailed account as to how and why it occurred, or what is the particular context. You must be defining key terms where ever appropriate, and substantiate with relevant associated facts.
Key demands of the question:
The answer should spotlight the main causes of the civil disobedience movement, its Spread and Methods, Government Response and End of it briefly and then move towards explaining how it affected the provinces, and most importantly how it gave a new dimension to the peasant movement.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction
Testify how Civil Disobedience Movement was started with Gandhiji’s defiance of salt law in Dandi and in what way popular indignation gave it a self-sustained momentum throughout India.
Body
Discuss the following aspects –
- Cause of the movement, its momentum in brief.
- Its affect on different provinces – Peshawar- Badshah Khan – Khudai Khidmatgar, Sholapur- textile workers- virtual parallel government, Gujarat- no tax movement, Eastern states etc.
- influence on Peasant movements; massive no rent campaign, Prabhat pheris etc.
Keywords: defiance of salt law, Khudai Khidmatgar, Cunningham Circular, Manjari Senas, Gandhi-Irwin Pact etc.
Conclusion
Conclude with enormity of the movement in the Indian freedom struggle.
Topic– The Freedom Struggle – its various stages and important contributors /contributions from different parts of the country.
Bipin Chandra, modern India – NCERT
Why this question:
The question is in the context Gandhiji’s support to Khilafat movement during the Indian freedom struggle.
demand of the question:
one is expected to evaluate whether Gandhiji’s secular credentials got diluted with Khilafat; by discussing the critiques and providing for the arguments that prove it otherwise.
Directive word
Evaluate – you must look into close details and establish the key facts and important issues surrounding the topic. You should try and offer reasons as to why the facts and issues you identified are the most important.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction
Introduce by stating the backdrop of Khilafat movement and how Gandhiji came to support the cause of it.
Body
Such questions should be addressed through a narration, the body of the answer should preferably first discuss as to why his support to the Khilafat movement seemed to have unsecular colors to it, why was he criticized by some under this pretext. Then move on to explain though the movement was based on religious issue, for Gandhiji was neither communal nor pro-Muslim nor an opportunistic leader but was a pragmatic statesman who had to make best use of the opportunities and resources available to him to attain independence from the British rule.
Conclusion
conclude with his purity of means, how the Chauri chaura incidence made him call off the movement depicting his only true religion was humanity.
Topic-Role of women and women’s organization, population and associated issues, poverty and developmental issues, urbanization, their problems and their remedies.
Why this question:
The article is in the context of recently published report of World Bank – “Women, business and the law 2019” that measured gender discrimination in 187 countries. It provides for facts justifying role of women in economic growth of a country.
Key demand of the question
The answer must highlight the interrelationship between Gender equality and the economic growth by appreciating the key findings of the report.
Directive word
Examine – When asked to ‘Examine’, we have to look into the topic (content words) in detail, inspect it, investigate it and establish the key facts and issues related to the topic in question. While doing so we should explain why these facts and issues are important and their implications.
Structure of the answer
Introduction:
Start with multidimensionality of gender equality and their correlation with economic growth.
Body:
The answer must address the following aspects –
- Start by explaining how Gender equality is a multidimensional term assuming economic, cultural and social dimensions.
- Details and assessment of the report.
- Indian scenario
- Justify by relating Gender equality to economic growth by providing examples of successful countries.
Conclusion:
- Conclude with importance of gender equality for better future of the societies.
General Studies – 2
Topic: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.
Why this question:
The article brings out the failure of talks held at Hanoi recently between US and North Korea, the recent conflicts between US and North Korea are being tried to be turned into a diplomatic opportunity, but the failure of talks hint at the arms race both the States are engaging in.
Key demand of the question:
The question expects the appreciation of arms race between the two countries in terms of Nuclear power.
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, one needs to look at the good and bad of the topic and give a fair judgement.
Structure of the answer
Introduction:
Start by bringing out the recent tensions between North Korea and the U.S. that have escalated to the point where any military action on either side would likely lead to another all-out war between the two.
Body:
Body should discuss the following broad aspects in detail –
- Nuclear power; balance of power or terror? Explain through background and associated facts.
- Recent escalations between the two countries.
- North Korea’s Nuclear complex – its impact on Asian countries and specifically with respect to India.
- Need for courageous diplomacy to denuclearize.
Conclusion:
Conclude with how priority should be to normalize ties between North Korea and important countries so as to move towards a non – nuclearized world.
Topic: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.
Why this question:
The article provides for a close examination of the challenges being faced by the Healthcare system in India. It highlights the need of strengthening primary health care system.
Key demand of the question:
The question wants us to bring out the overall importance of a strong and efficient health infrastructure in the country. It wants us to highlight the status of health infrastructure in India , the challenges it is facing and the suggestive measures to improve the same.
Structure of the answer
Introduction:
Discuss the significance of healthcare infrastructure in India. Relate it to development aspect of the country.
Body:
Discuss the challenges specific to Indian healthcare system on multiple dimensions – policy level, finances, infrastructure, schemes and their failures etc. Then move onto discuss what needs to be done to improve the existing scenario – strengthening of primary healthcare system, increased finances, infrastructure development, dedicated delivery of schemes etc.
Conclusion –
Conclude with how the system of healthcare is crucial for the development of the country thus it is very important for the government to focus on augmenting the current system marred with loopholes.
General Studies – 3
Topic: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment.
Why this question:
The article provides for an assessment of Fiscal federalism in India , its link with cooperative federalism and the challenges being faced by Fiscal federalism in India.
Key demand of the question:
The answer must discuss how the state of cooperative federalism in India is analyzed by focusing on the trends in vertical fiscal imbalances between the Centre and the states, the impact of Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management acts on the fiscal space of the states, the implications of the Terms of Reference of the Fifteenth Finance Commission, and the need for empowering local governments in the context of Centre–state relations.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin with what you understand by Fiscal federalism.
Body:
Discuss the following :
- How fiscal federalism is linked to cooperative federalism.
- Discuss trends in central and state taxes, the issues in sharing taxes and distribution of grants, the vertical fiscal imbalances, the impact of FRBM legislations, Fifteenth Finance Commission and empowering local governments (LGs), in the context of Centre–state relations.
- Discuss the specific challenges.
Conclusion:
Conclude with what needs to be done to overcome the challenges.
Topic– Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics, nano-technology, bio-technology and issues relating to intellectual property rights.
Why this question:
The question is in the backdrop of launch of SpaceX’s new Dragon capsule that was docked on the International Space Station (ISS), the launch proved to be a key step towards resuming manned space flights. The Indian space program has changed in the last decade with renewed focus on military applications of space, thus the question becomes important with respect to GS paper III.
Key demand of the question:
The main demand of the question is to explain the importance of private participants in the Indian space industry. What are the Challenges, Opportunities, and Strategic Concerns associated with it.
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:
Narrate the background of the SpaceX’s success with respect to launch of Dragon capsule – a step towards resuming manned space flights.
Body:
Discuss how an important development in the U.S. space program over the last decade has been the emergence of private sector partners, What role does the private sector play in the Indian space program, and what challenges to further private sector development exist for India. Discuss the most important foreign partners for India in the history of its space program; the relative importance of these partnerships changing, and what opportunities for collaboration has India identified.
Conclusion:
Conclude with optimism as India can achieve greater heights in Space given its current capabilities.
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