[Insights Secure – 2019] Daily UPSC Mains Answer Writing Practice: 27 March 2019
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INSIGHTS NEW SECURE – 2019: YEARLONG TIMETABLE
Tomorrow’s Static Topic: Social empowerment, communalism, regionalism & secularism.
General Studies – 1
Topic: Social empowerment, communalism, regionalism & secularism.
why this question:
The question is about discussing the concept of regionalism and its role both positive and negative in defining the federal character of the country.
Key demands of the question:
The answer must first elaborate on what is Regionalism, what are the causes of it, its impact and implications on the federal character of the country. Compare and contrast each of these implications – both positive and negative and examine what needs to be done.
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
Discuss Regionalism as an ideology.
Body
Discuss the following aspects in the answer:
- What is Indian regionalism?
- example of regionalism in India
- What are the causes of regionalism in India?
- Its link with the federal character of the country.
- explain regionalism as an ideology and political movement that seeks to advance the causes of regions.
Conclusion
Conclude with optimism that regionalism should be used to unify rather than divide the country.
Topic-Social empowerment, communalism, regionalism & secularism.
Why this question:
The article brings out that the survey shows that among India’s urban youth, those with stronger religious predispositions display more prejudice against homosexuality compared to their less-religious counterparts. Thus necessitating us to analyse the question critically.
Demand of the question:
This question seeks to examine the Stereotypes associated with homosexuals, the discriminatory attitude faced by them. The taboo associated with it. The question is about recognizing the varying Societal attitudes toward homosexuality more so specifically in the Indian case and with a special emphasis on Youth.
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
Brief upon the current identity of Homosexuals in India as per laws.
Body
First start by stating the historic judgement that has decriminalized homosexuality by declaring section 377 as unconstitutional.
Discuss why the prejudices and patriarchal mindset of Indian society are so prevalent ?
Suggest how legal solution alone would not be enough for homosexuals to overcome the taboo.
Discuss in detail the causes of such mindset.
Suggest solutions – what needs to be done?
ConclusionBased on your discussion form a fair and a balanced conclusion on the above issue.
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 analyses in detail the government of India’s flagship scheme of Aadhaar Payment Bridge System (APBS) with special focus on how it affects the
Key demand of the question:
The answer must discuss the salient features of the scheme very briefly and discuss the challenges that the Aadhaar Payment Bridge System is posing against the vulnerable and the marginalized sections of the society.
Directive word:
Critically Analyse – When asked to ‘analyse’, 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. 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:
Introduce by highlighting the significance of Aadhaar Payment Bridge System (APBS).
Body:
Answers must discuss the following aspects :
- Discuss the key features of the Aadhaar Payment Bridge System (APBS) how it works, what are the provisions associated with it? Etc.
- Discuss how Aadhar implementation creates scope for inflicting damage on the poor and the unprivileged.
- E.g. When benefits are paid through Aadhaar-enabled means such as the Aadhaar Payments Bridge System (APBS), the first step is to seed the list of beneficiaries with the corresponding Aadhaar numbers; Seeding is a tedious operation and it has to be done each time a new scheme is inducted. Those who have failed to comply are simply removed from the lists. Poor people often find themselves deprived of their rights in the process; Whenever ABBA has been imposed in the PDS, large numbers of poor people have been deprived of their food rations. Meanwhile, evidence from Jharkhand suggests that ABBA is of little use in reducing PDS corruption. Nevertheless, the central government is determined to make ABBA compulsory for food rations, with cosmetic exemptions; Another source of confusion is the APBS’s “last Aadhaar-linked account” (LALA) rule, whereby Aadhaar becomes a financial address and money is automatically sent to a person’s LALA. This rule often sent people’s money to unwanted or unknown destinations, such as someone else’s account or an Airtel wallet etc.
Conclusion –
Conclude by suggesting a way forward, how can the government overcome the challenges.
Topic : Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.
Why this question:
Human capital is now the fastest-growing component of India’s wealth, but to reap the benefits of this ‘demographic dividend’, creation of sufficient new jobs is need of hour. Thus it is important for us to analyse the challenge of unavailability of Jobs in India
Key demand of the question:
The answer must discuss at length the challenge of Joblessness India is facing, by highlighting the inter relation between growth and jobs.
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:
Introduce by stating the current conditions of the joblessness in India and highlight the problems associated with it.
Body:
In brief discuss –
What are the challenges in the job scenario in India?
Establish the link between lack of Jobs and growth. Here suggest facts and statistics to justify from various reports.
what solutions are required to fix these concerns associated with it?
Conclude with present policies and programmes in this direction.
What needs to be done on this front – skilling, education etc.
Conclusion:
Conclude with way forward – suggest steps to overcome the crisis scenario.
Topic: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.
Why this question:
The article is by ex RBI Governor Raghuram G. Rajan, He analyses the affects of possible BREXIT outcome by articulating multiple factors associated to it.
Key demand of the question:
The question expects us to shed some light on the complications surrounding Brexit, the implication of the deal on India countries across the world and evaluate how it will affect the prosperity -poverty equation.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Brief upon the Brexit issue.
Body:
Discuss the following aspects :
- Explain in short Why the clamor for Brexit? – Economic reasons, Immigration issues, Sovereignty Issue etc.
- What will be the impact of Brexit? – economic, geopolitical etc.
- Factors that would create disbalance and lead to unequal prosperity getting converted to collective poverty. (take cues from the article to justify this point well)
Conclusion:
Conclude with what needs to be done to overcome the situation (the article best explains it, take cues again from the article).
General Studies – 3
Topic : Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment.
Why this question:
The question is in the context of development of North east region of India and issues associated with it.
Key demand of the question:
The answer must discuss in detail the challenges and concerns associated with its development and how one can harness its true potential. One of the main constraints to development in North East India is the lack of connectivity, answer must emphasize thus on role of infrastructure development in increasing connectivity vs-a-vis harnessing its true potential.
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:
Briefly narrate the importance of North -East for India and its potential.
Body:
Explain the following –
- First discuss the key challenges related to the development of the North-East region, major constraints to development in the region.
- Then state how not only is the region poorly connected to the rest of India, it is also poorly connected to neighboring countries in Southeast Asia.
- Discuss the link between Inadequate infrastructure and poor connectivity in India’s north-east.
- Analyse its impact on – economy, society and politics of the region.
- Quote examples of recent infrastructure development projects.
Conclusion:
Conclude with importance of infrastructure projects from the development of the region.
Topic: Conservation, environmental degradation.
Why this question:
The article discusses the International Energy Agency report on climate change making us aware of the situation related to climate – it has established that China, India and US account for 85% of the net increase in carbon emissions. Examining the options available to us in light of the new report and brainstorming over way forward is the focus of this question.
Key demand of the question:
The question expects us to first discuss the findings of the International Energy Agency report and highlight the risk that faces it. Thereafter, we need to bring out the impact that unprecedented carbon emissions will have on weather, natural disasters etc. We need to discuss ways through which this situation can be addressed and suggest way forward.
Directive word:
Comment– here we have to express our knowledge and understanding of the issue and form an overall opinion thereupon.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin with brief introductory lines on highlights of the findings by the International Energy Agency.
Body:
- Discuss the outline of the main findings of the report – China, India and US account for 85% of the net increase in carbon emissions.
- In India, emissions rose by 4.8%, although the nation’s per capita release remained low at 40% of the global average.
- Global carbon dioxide emissions rose 1.7% in 2018, the highest rate of growth since 2013, and 70% higher than the average increase since 2010.
- Then move on to discuss the effectiveness of the global fight against climate change amid rising energy demand in detail.
- Discuss the effect and what needs to be done to mitigate the challenge the world is facing.
Conclusion:
Conclude with importance of immediate attention by the world community to look into the issue urgently and come up with an immediate fix to the problem.
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. Human Values – lessons from the lives and teachings of great leaders, reformers and administrators; role of family, society and educational institutions in inculcating values.
Why this question:
The question is to examine the role of Law and Ethics in controlling the human conduct so as to make the society more and more civilized .
Key demand of the question:
The answer must explain first the essence and necessity of civilized social existence, harmony and peace in co-existence and thus the role law and ethics contribute in controlling the human conduct so as to reach such a humanized societal co-existence.
Directive:
Comment– here we have to express our knowledge and understanding of the issue and form an overall opinion thereupon.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Briefly state what you understand by civilized society, parameters substantiating it etc.
Body:
Discuss the following aspects:
- How and why civilised society exists only through behaviour regulation ( can quote ideas of Kautilya).
- Discuss how to achieve this objective of social co-existence through law and ethics.
Quote examples – say child labour; without law no one would do away with the evil practice and without ethics none would have followed the law.
NOTE:
