[Insights Secure – 2019] Daily UPSC Mains Answer Writing Practice: 24 April 2019
Click on EACH question to post/upload you answers.
How to Follow Secure Initiative?
How to Self-evaluate your answer?
INSIGHTS NEW SECURE – 2019: YEARLONG TIMETABLE
Tomorrow’s Static Topic: Parliament and State Legislatures – structure, functioning, conduct of business,
powers & privileges and issues arising out of these.
General Studies – 2
Topic: Parliament and State Legislatures – structure, functioning, conduct of business, powers & privileges and issues arising out of these.
Why this question:
The question is amidst frequent allegations that have recently been gathering under various constituencies regarding the reliability of Electronic voting machines. It has been alleged that voting machines have been tampered to favor of a particular party.
Key demand of the question:
The answer must narrate recent controversies related to electronic voting machines and what should be the course of action by election commission to restore the public faith in the free and fair process of election.
Directive word:
Explain – Clarify the topic 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.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin with the recent issues raised with respect to EVMs.
Body:
- One must list the various plethora of issues raised against the EVM- EVM-tampering.
- Discuss how election commission has been evolving with technological innovations , processes and procedures to plug loopholes.
- Explain the processes such as coming of VVPATs, evolution of ballot boxes etc.
- Discuss how ECI should come up with awareness camps, use of social media to disseminate information etc.
Conclusion:
Conclude by asserting the significance of ECI and highlight the fairness with which the ECI works.
Topic: Structure, organization and functioning of the Executive and the Judiciary.
Why this question:
The question is around the recent controversies plaguing Judiciary that have questioned the credibility of the system and its functionalities.
Key demand of the question:
The article provides for a detailed analysis of recent issue – The allegation of sexual harassment against the Chief Justice of India (CJI) and the way it is being investigated has put questions on the functioning of the entire judicial system.
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:
State the issues concerning the system.
Body:
- Explain the crisis surrounding Judiciary off late – associated with the office of chief justice.
- Discussion should bring out the errors with which the case is being handled.
- Discuss the controversy of independence of the judiciary vs supremacy and respective misuse of power.
- Why is there a lack of credible internal structure ?
- What needs to be done to facilitate a conducive environment and restore the losing identity of the office.
Conclusion:
Conclude with significance of the office of CJI and what should be done to preserve the Dignity of the office .
Topic: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health.
Why this question:
The question is in the context of World Malaria day celebrated on 24th April.
And recently
Demand of the question:
The answer must evaluate in detail the recent controversies surrounding GST, about making it a single rate platform. Evaluate the pros and cons of such a move and an African Nation, Malawi is in plans of undertaking large scale pilot tests for the world’s most advanced experimental malaria vaccine in a bid to prevent the disease.
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 by explaining the expanse of the disease across the world.
Body
- Discuss the status of Malaria in India – a good way would be to provide for a timeline, associated policies and programmes that focused on elimination of the disease.
- Explain the coming of World’s first vaccine against a parasitic disease: Mosquirix.
- What are its significance?
- Impact on global scenario of Malaria.
- India’s efforts in this regard.
- State few examples of initiatives such as Odisha’s Durgama Anchalare Malaria Nirakaran (DAMaN).
Conclusion
Conclude with way forward.
Topic: Parliament and State Legislatures – structure, functioning, conduct of business, powers & privileges and issues arising out of these.
Why this question:
The question is direct and is based upon the concept of Anti-defection law in the background of 91st constitutional amendment Act.
Key demand of the question:
The answer must provide for salient features enshrined in the Anti-defection law. State how historically the constitution had no reference to political parties and their existence and later the anti defection law evolved through historical milestones around the elections.
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:
Begin with definition – The tenth schedule of the Indian Constitution, also called the Anti-Defection act, was amended in 1985 to prevent such defections and stop politicians from changing parties for the lure of office.
Body:
In brief discuss –
- What is 91st Amendment Act?
- What is meant by anti-defection law?
- Under Anti-Defection Act, an elected member of a party can be disqualified on two grounds –
- If he voluntarily gives up his membership or
- He votes or abstains from voting in the House, contrary to his party’s direction and without obtaining prior permission.
According to the anti-defection law, at least two-thirds of the members of a party have to be in favor of a ‘merger’ for it to possess validity in the eyes of the law.
- Explain the exceptions –
- If a complete political party merges with another political party
- If a new political party is created by the elected members of one party
- If the party members don’t accept the merger between the two parties and opts to perform as a separate group from the time of such a merger.
Another condition is that his abstaining the voting should not be overlooked by his party within 15 days of such incident.
Conclusion:
Conclude with importance of such an act in conducting free and fair elections.
Topic :Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests
Why this question:
The Article discusses the Brexit issue and the imbroglio associated with it.
Key demand of the question:
The answer must discuss the entire situation of Brexit; the complications involved ranging from withdrawal agreement to 21-month “transition” period. Discuss in detail the present scenario, effects of it on EU.
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:
Introduce by bringing out the current scenario of Brexit.
Body:
- Discuss – After months of negotiation, the United Kingdom(UK) and European Union(EU) have come up with a draft withdrawal agreement. To buy more time, both have agreed on a 21-month transition period to smooth the way towards post-Brexit relations. However, Eurosceptics in Theresa May’s (British P.M) own Conservative Party and opposition lawmakers expressed dissatisfaction over the way deal has evolved.
- Detail upon the Withdrawal Agreement and Transition Period.
- Discuss the Effect of BREXIT on the EU.
Conclusion –
Suggest way forward.
Topic: Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability.
Why this question:
The article captures a detailed critical analysis of the data issue associated with National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) and the extent of politicization of the office.
Key demand of the question:
The answer must provide for a critical analysis of the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) and the way data is being cherry picked, in what way it affects Government’s policy decisions.
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 with role of National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) in providing accurate data .
Body:
Explain in detail the roles and responsibilities of National Sample Survey Office (NSSO), what are the controversies involved. Discuss the recent cases with respect to employment data where the data was politicized affecting the policy decisions in the Job scenario.
Take cues from the article and explain what needs to be done to overcome the issues and concerns associated with the office.
Conclusion:
Conclude with need to give teeth to the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO), so that the data is not manipulated or mismanaged and the office performs its roles and responsibilities duly.
General Studies – 3
Topic: Government Budgeting.
Why this question:
Recently the Ministry of Finance has asked all the departments to undertake a review of government guarantees given by respective ministries to their Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) or entities.
Key demands of the question:
The answer must discuss what are Government Guarantees, why is there a need to review them and their significance.
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 defining what are Government Guarantees.
Body
The body of the answer should address the following dimensions:
- Guarantees are contingent liabilities which have the potential to impact the financial performance of the government.
- Discuss why their review is necessary?
- Significance – The review will look into aspects like whether the discharge of repayment obligations or interest obligations as per terms of the loan agreement and covenants and conditions met.
Conclusion
Conclude with significance of such steps.
General Studies – 4
Topic : Honesty and truthfulness
Why this question:
The question is about evaluating the virtues of Honesty and truthfulness.
Key demand of the question:
The question demands one to evaluate how honesty and truthfulness need to be professed with a sense of diplomacy on occasion owing to different circumstances.
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:
Define what are the virtues of honesty and truthfulness.
Body:
- The line dividing honesty and diplomacy is a thin one, one must analyse the importance of striking a balance between the two.
- Examples must be provided to explain and justify the question better.
- Discuss how diplomacy or lack of honesty can lead to deterioration in our relationships.
- While Diplomacy is for our self-protection and self-preservation, honesty is to complement truthfulness.
Conclusion:
Conclude with a balanced opinion based on a fair analysis .
NOTE:
