[Insights Secure – 2019] Daily UPSC Mains Answer Writing Practice: 11 April 2019
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Tomorrow’s Static Topic: Indian Constitution- historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments,
significant provisions and basic structure.
General Studies – 1
Topic: The Freedom Struggle – its various stages and important contributors /contributions from different parts of the country.
Why this question:
The question is in context of 100th anniversary of the tragic incident of Jallianwala Bagh. Recently British Prime minister Theresa May described the Jallianwala Bagh massacre in Amritsar as a “shameful scar” on British Indian history.
Key demand of the question:
The answer must discuss the tragedy of Jallianwala Bagh of 1919 and its significance in the history of modern India and in what way it’s a blot on the British Indian history.
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 narrate the incident of the tragedy of Jallianwala Bagh of 1919.
Body:
The discussion should have the following points :
- The massacre – It took place in Jallianwala Bagh in Amritsar over Baisakhi in April 1919 when troops of the British Indian Army under the command of Colonel Dyer fired machine guns at a crowd of people holding a pro-independence demonstration. It claimed thousands of lives and injured thousands others.
- Explain the Britain’s position since the mid-1990s of expressing ‘deep regret’ for the April 13, 1919, massacre in Jallianwala Bagh and not issuing a formal apology.
- India – UK relationship as of today and impact of this historical past.
Conclusion:
Conclude with significance of the massacre and the turning point it brought in British history.
General Studies – 2
Topic:Indian Constitution- historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure.
Why this question:
The question is in the context of Gandhi’s concept of democratic decentralization and why it could not find place in the original constitution.
Key demands of the question:
The answer must provide for a detailed discussion on the concept of village Swaraj and why Gandhian concept of Village Development was not taken into account in the original constitution.
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
Highlight the background of the constitutional debates with respect to Panchayati Raj.
Body
Discuss the following features in the answer:
- Concept of Village republic by Mahatma Gandhi – village will be a complete republic, independent of its neighbours for its own vital wants. The government of the village will be conducted by the Panchayat of five persons, annually elected by adult villagers.
- Importance of Democratic Decentralization.
- Contrast the ideas of B R Ambedkar and his ideas of Village system – the structure of village settlements reflected basic tenets of Hinduism that never recognized Dalits as equal. Dr. Ambedkar was of the view that the villages contributed to and sustained the divisive nature of the Hindu society, where the untouchables always remained “outside the fold. He was against the very idea of village republic mainly because he had seen the atrocities, isolation, discrimination and separation of Dalits during his early childhood.
- Also present the ideas of Nehru.
- Discuss the present constitutional features – DPSP , 73rd constitutional amendment act etc.
Conclusion
conclude your answer with significance o Gandhian idea and that for India, its villages are as important as cities.
Topic : Indian Constitution- historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure.
Why this question:
The question is straight forward from the basics of the polity.
Demand of the question:
Discuss in detail the process involved in passage of Bill with emphasis on matters that require prior consent of the President.
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
one can start by defining significance of passage of Bill in the parliament.
Body
The question is straightforward and conceptual , thus there is not much to discuss, Every bill passed by two houses becomes a law only after assent of president and hence president is an integral part of parliament.
Following matters must be covered in your discussion :
- Bills that seek to change or alter name, boundaries, area of a state or form a new state by separation of territory from any state under Article 3 of Indian constitution. This is essential to preserve principle of federalism.
- Money bill under Article 110 and financial bill under Article 117(I). This is to keep a check on arbitrary state power in matters of taxation.
- State bills which impose restriction upon freedom of trade under Article 304. This provision ensures unrestricted trade between states except on reasonable and non-discriminatory grounds.
- Bill which imposes or varies any tax or duty in which states are interested under Article 274, to ensure financial autonomy of state and fiscal federalism.
Conclusion
Conclude with significance of Presidential assent.
Topic : Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health.
Why this question:
The drug-resistant fungus “Candida Auris” has sickened hundreds of people across the United States (US) and around the world, and its rise embodies a serious and growing public health threat of antimicrobial resistance
Key demand of the question:
The answer must cover a detailed discussion on the antimicrobial resistance, onset of Candida Auris, causes and effects. And what needs to be done to overcome the challenge concerning the world.
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 aspects :
- About Candida Auris (C. Auris) :
- is a drug-resistant superbug fungus which causes serious infections; it is an emerging fungus that presents a serious global health threat.
- The fungus has also been called “a creature from the black lagoon.”
- It is multidrug-resistant, which means it is resistant to multiple antifungal drugs commonly used to treat Candida infections.
- The fungus, a type of yeast called Candida auris, can lead to an infection of the bloodstream, heart, or brain and these infections are difficult to treat.
- Why is it such a big worry? – causes and consequences (take leads from the article)
- Origin of the global threat.
- How it can be prevented – preventing the spread, intensive clinical care, controlled intake of antibiotics, reduced usage of fungicides in agriculture etc.
Conclusion:
Conclude with road ahead – Battling the superbugs requires aggressive responses and, ultimately, scientific advancements.
General Studies – 3
Topic: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment.
why this question:
Recently The Reserve Bank of India came out with guidelines for banks to set up new currency chests. Thus it is important for us to understand the significance of currency chests in Banking system.
Key demand of the question:
The answer must discuss in detail what are currency chests , its need and significance in the banking system.
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 recent move by RBI.
Body:
Answers must discuss in detail the following points :
- What are Currency chests? – Currency chests are branches of selected banks authorized by the RBI to stock rupee notes and coins.
- Role of currency chests.
- Significance of recent guidelines –
- Area of the strong room/ vault of at least 1,500 sq ft. For those situated in hilly/ inaccessible places, the strong room/ vault area of at least 600 sq. ft.
- The new chests should have a processing capacity of 6.6 lakh pieces of banknotes per day. Those situated in the hilly/ inaccessible places, a capacity of 2.1 lakh pieces of banknotes per day.
- The currency chests should have Chest Balance Limit (CBL) of Rs 1,000 crore, subject to ground realities and reasonable restrictions, at the discretion of the Reserve Bank.
Conclusion –
Conclude with significance of currency chests.
Topic : Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life.
why this question:
For the first time, four lizards have been genetically modified using the CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing tool.
Key demand of the question:
The question is about analyzing the significance of CRISPR technology and discussing the ethical angle 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:
In a few introductory lines state the background of the context of question.
Body:
In brief discuss –
- What is CRISPR technology ?
- Scenario – Recently Scientists developed a new version of a gene drive that allows the spread of specific, favorable genetic variants, also known as ‘alleles,’ throughout a population. The new ‘allelic drive’ is equipped with a guide RNA that directs CRISPR to cut undesired variants of a gene and replace it with a preferred version. Using a word processing analogy, CRISPR-based gene drives allow scientists to edit sentences of genetic information, while the new allelic drive offers letter-by-letter editing.
- Significance of CRISPR technology, how it works.
- Ethical issues involved – clinical applications of the technology in human beings, lack of protocols, risk of mutations etc.
Conclusion:
Conclude with significance of such tools in path-breaking technology, to alter genes in order to tackle a number of conventional and unconventional problems, especially in the health sector.
General Studies – 4
Topic: Attitude: content, structure, function; its influence and relation with thought and behaviour; moral and political attitudes; social influence and persuasion.
7) Discuss the significance of power of persuasion in Public services. (250 words)
Ethics by Lexicon
Why this question:
The question is about discussing the significance of power of persuasion in Public services.
Key demand of the question:
The answer is straightforward and must discuss the significance of power of persuasion in Public services.
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 what you understand by power of persuasion.
Body:
Discuss the following :
- What is power of persuasion – ability to persuade people, In both our professional and personal lives, being able to influence others to buy into our ideas is invaluable.
- Discuss the 6 principles of persuasion –
- Reciprocity: Give a Little Something to Get a Little Something in Return.
- Commitment: People Want Their Beliefs to Be Consistent With Their Values
- Social Proof: There’s Nothing Like Feeling Validated Based on What Others Are Doing.
- Authority
- Liking
- Scarcity.
- Give examples of the above principles and their relevance in public services and thus appreciate the role played by power of persuasion.
Conclusion:
Conclude with significance of such traits in public servants to persuade people into the right direction for the right causes.
NOTE:
