[Insights Secure – 2019] Daily UPSC Mains Answer Writing Practice: 10 April 2019
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INSIGHTS NEW SECURE – 2019: YEARLONG TIMETABLE
Tomorrow’s Static Topic: Indian Constitution- historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments,
significant provisions and basic structure.
General Studies – 1
Topic: Indian Constitution- historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure.
Why this question:
The question is direct and it is debating about feasibility of simultaneous elections in India.
Key demands of the question:
The answer must provide for a detailed discussion on the possibility of Simultaneous elections in India, associated advantages, disadvantages and way forward.
Directive :
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 why the issue has come up in recent times in your introduction.
Body
Discuss the following aspects in the answer:
- As per the question’s demand write the advantages of simultaneous holding of elections in Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies.
- It will drastically reduce the cost of elections for both governments and political parties, and the administrative burden on the Election Commission to conduct elections.
- The imposition of the Model Code of Conduct at regular intervals puts many activities of the government on hold and affects governance. The policy paralysis would be done away with.
- There will be significant impact on delivery of essential services as more time would be devoted to the developmental activities. Political and social workers would have more time to invest in people oriented programme and grass root democracy.
- Concurrent polls would reduce the burden from central armed forces and manpower that is deployed at regular intervals for election duty.
- Enumerate the concerns related with the concurrent elections.
- feasibility of constitutional amendments
- Many voters may not be able to discern the difference between national and local issues etc.
- What can be done?
Conclusion
conclude your answer with a balanced approach. You can quote some Committee’s report in the conclusion.
Topic: Important Geophysical phenomena such as earthquakes, Tsunami, Volcanic activity, cyclone etc., geographical features and their location- changes in critical geographical features (including waterbodies and ice-caps) and in flora and fauna and the effects of such changes.
Why this question:
The question is about discussing the role of Inter-State Council in enhancing cooperative federalism in India. On has to analyse the different institutional arrangements that can promote centre – state relations.
Demand of the question:
Discuss in detail the necessity of cooperation between center and states.
Why it is important, what steps are needed to enhance it.
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
The question is straightforward and conceptual , thus there is not much to discuss, one can start by defining significance of centre-state relations.
Body
- Write in brief the existing institutional arrangements which enhance Centre-State Cooperation.
- Then, write the aim of Inter-State Council. Analyse the performance of Inter-State Council since its inception.
- Give examples wherein the council has catalyzed developmental activities like crucial in the implementation of many of the Sarkaria Commission’s 247 other recommendations, such as altering the states’ share of central taxes. council has helped bridge the trust deficit between the centre and the states
Conclusion
Give concluding remarks for the answer with a way forward
General Studies – 2
Topic: Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies.
Why this question:
The article provides for a detailed analysis of concerns and about alleged tamperability of ECI-EVM that have been raised frequently by the politicians.
Questioning the integrity of EVM systems.
Key demand of the question:
The answer must discuss the significance of integrity of the EVM system and highlight the importance of recognizing its credibility by the political foreground. One has to mainly focus on analyzing what makes politicians criticize the system.
Directive:
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:
Briefly discuss the current scenario – provide for a backgrounder.
Body:
The discussion should have the following points :
- What are the major problems of the EVM system being pointed at by the politicians?
- Background of evolution of EVM , various verdicts of courts with regards to credibility of EVMs.
- Why the doubts amongst politicians?
- Suggest a way forward.
Conclusion:
Conclude with what needs to be done to overcome the doubts in minds of politicians.
Topic : Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests, Indian diaspora.
Why this question:
The article captures the recent move of President Donald Trump, he has announced that the United States is designating Iran’s elite military force, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), a terrorist organization.
The move could have widespread implications for U.S. personnel and policy in the Middle East and elsewhere. This will mark the first such designation by any American administration of an entire foreign government entity.
Key demand of the question:
The answer must cover a detailed discussion on the economic and political pressure on the regime in Iran that US wants to assert and what will be its implications.
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 the situation , explain the background in brief.
Body:
Discussion should have the following dimensions :
- About the About Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
- The move could have widespread implications for U.S. personnel and policy in the Middle East and elsewhere. This will mark the first such designation by any American administration of an entire foreign government entity.
- The “unprecedented” move recognizes the reality that Iran is not only a state sponsor of terrorism, but that the IRGC actively participates in, finances, and promotes terrorism as a tool of statecraft.
- Businesses and banks around the world now have a clear duty to ensure that companies with which they conduct financial transactions are not conducted with the IRGC in any material way.
- The measure would criminalize contact with the Guards and enable the prosecutors to bring charges to those that bring material support to the IRGC.
- Russia and China may start designating U.S. agencies for punitive actions.
- Iraq could be caught in a double bind, as it purchases electricity from Iran, including from entities tied to the IRGC etc.
Conclusion:
Conclude with possible impacts of such a move on a geopolitical scenario.
General Studies – 3
Topic: Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life.
why this question:
In the era of rapid proliferation of smart home devices, the article analyses the psychological impact it is about to create in human minds.
Key demand of the question:
The answer must discuss in detail the growing dependence of social machines, its impact in terms of psychological affects and what needs to be done to overcome 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:
write a few introductory lines about the current situation.
Body:
Answers must discuss in detail the following points :
- Explain how the liability in the age of conversational AI is going to become layered and far more complex.
- Discuss the wide ranging effects of social machines? To what extent they can harm humanity.
- Give examples – iPad parenting, depending on smart devices to switch on and off the lights etc.
- What can be done to overcome it ?
Conclusion –
Conclude with way forward and suggest solutions.
Topic : Challenges to internal security through communication networks, role of media and social networking sites in internal security challenges, basics of cyber security; money-laundering and its prevention.
Why this question:
UK government has released a white paper on ‘online harms’. These new rules are aimed at limiting harmful online content. Developing a culture of transparency, trust and accountability will be a critical element of the new regulatory framework.
Key demand of the question:
The question is about analyzing the significance of such regulations in the current era of technology.
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:
In a few introductory lines state the background of the context of question.
Body:
In brief discuss –
- The highlights of the white paper of UK .
- In this white paper, the UK government called for an internet regulator with the power to issue fine, to block access to websites if necessary, and to make individual executives legally liable for harmful content spread on their platforms.
- The government will establish a new statutory duty of care to make companies take more responsibility for the safety of their users and tackle harm caused by content or activity on their services. Compliance with this duty of care will be overseen and enforced by an independent regulator.
- Companies must fulfil their new legal duties. The regulator will set out how to do this in codes of practice. If companies want to fulfil these duties in a manner not set out in the codes, they will have to explain and justify to the regulator how their alternative approach will effectively deliver the same or greater level of impact.
- The regulator will have the power to require annual transparency reports from companies in scope, outlining the prevalence of harmful content on their platforms and what measures they are taking to address this. These reports will be published online by the regulator, so that users and parents can make informed decisions about online use.
- Discuss why it came into existence, what are its significance.
- What lessons should India take from it.
Conclusion:
Conclude with significance of such tools in the rapidly growing age of technology.
General Studies – 4
Topic: Probity in Governance: Work culture
Ethics by Lexicon
Why this question:
The question is about discussing various components of organization’s work culture, the associated key issues and how they need to be addressed.
Key demand of the question:
The answer is straightforward and must discuss in parts the concept of work culture and associated features.
Directive:
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:
In a few introductory lines write about work culture in an organization.
Body:
Discuss various components of organization’s work culture.
Enlist issues that need to be addressed for developmental and performance oriented work culture.
Use examples from day to day work life, private and public organizations etc.
Suggest what methods can be used to develop good work culture.
Conclusion:
Conclude with significance of such mechanisms and need for a balanced approach in having a good work culture that harnesses the best potential of the organisation.
NOTE:
