[Insights Secure – 2019] Daily UPSC Mains Answer Writing Practice: 13 May 2019
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INSIGHTS NEW SECURE – 2019: YEARLONG TIMETABLE
Tomorrow’s Static Topic: Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States
and the performance of these schemes; mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies
constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections.
General Studies – 1
Topic: Salient features of Indian Society, Social empowerment.
Why this question:
Recently as part of its community-policing initiatives, the Maharashtra police has decided to institutionalize the “best policing practices” that were or are being followed in districts across the state. These include the “police Didi” programme in Mumbai, the “bharosa (trust) cell” by the Pune and Nagpur police and so on. Thus, it is important for us to evaluate the significance of community policing in Indian context.
Key demands of the question:
The answer must briefly discuss the concept of community based policing, its merits and demerits vis-à-vis the existing police system that is plagued with plethora of issues.
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 explain what you understand by Community policing.
Body
The body of the answer has to capture the following aspects:
- Community policing – is a philosophy that promotes organizational strategies that support the systematic use of partnerships and problem-solving techniques to proactively address the immediate conditions that give rise to public safety issues such as crime, social disorder, and fear of crime.
- What are the elements of community policing? – positive interaction, partnerships, and problem solving.
- What are the key features of community policing? – It is a partnership with the objective to determine community needs and policing priorities and to promote police accountability and effectiveness. It should include the participation of all stakeholders. It is effective at problem solving.
- Discuss the benefits and disadvantages associated with it with respect to the issues plaguing Indian police system (highlight issues and show how community policing can provide for good fix).
Conclusion
Conclude with significance of the role played by the system of such policing.
Topic: Role of women.
Why this question:
The question is based on the theme of political participation of women in the country and the challenges facing it. One needs to evaluate the issue closely and discuss the importance of significant role that needs to be played by Men to bring equality in participation.
Key demand of the question:
The answer must discuss the picture of political participation women in India, how far have women been able to enter the political arena of the country. Also explain the necessity of efforts by the Men in this direction.
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:
Brief upon the recent incidences that highlight the inequality prevailing in terms of Women participation in the politics of the country.
Body:
- Body of the answer should discuss the following aspects:
- Highlight the present ratio of women participation in Indian politics.
- Discuss the trends in women participation that was witnessed this election.
- What should be the role of Men in bringing equality of participation in the political arena and why is it important?
- Suggest what needs to be done?
Conclusion:
Conclude that Male politicians must take a lead role in challenging traditions which foster inequality and also unequivocally condemn the misogynistic language that their counterparts use when it comes to women.
General Studies – 2
Topic: Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes; mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections.
Why this question:
The question aims to evaluate the present conditions of healthcare system in India and how correcting regional imbalances in the availability of affordable/ reliable tertiary healthcare services is the need of the hour. The question also is about discussing the significance of augmenting medical education in the country.
Key demand of the question:
The must evaluate in detail the existing healthcare system of the country and discuss the significance of bringing in regional balances in the availability and affordability of the healthcare system across the country along with significance of medical education.
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 brief write up on current healthcare scenario of the country.
Body:
- Discussion should include the following aspects –
- Explain the challenges before the health system in India and why these challenges persist – Indian health system is besieged by inadequate infrastructure, paucity of skilled human resources, inadequate drug and medical supply, lack of preparedness, all of these further burdened by an increase in communicable, non-communicable, and vector borne diseases.
- Examine how health policy has fared in India recently?
- Explain the regional imbalances that exist in the health system and their causes as well as consequences.
- Discuss what needs to be done? – give a focused write up on aspect of medical education and the role it has to play in improving the healthcare system.
Conclusion:
Conclude with way forward.
Topic: Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes; mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections.
Why this question:
The question is based on the static portions of the syllabus, it aims to analyse the achievements of Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana.
Demand of the question:
This question seeks to examine Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana and to what extent the scheme has succeeded in realizing the objectives of adding diversity to the incomes of rural poor families and cater to the career aspirations of rural youth.
Directive word:
Evaluate – When you are asked to evaluate, you have to pass a sound judgement about the truth of the given statement in the question or the topic based on evidences. You have to appraise the worth of the statement in question. There is scope for forming a personal opinion here.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction
Start with brief introduction about the scheme.
Body
Discuss the following points in detail:
- Discuss the key highlights of the scheme:
- DDU-GKY is a part of the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM), tasked with the dual objectives of adding diversity to the incomes of rural poor families and cater to the career aspirations of rural youth.
- DDU-GKY is uniquely focused on rural youth between the ages of 15 and 35 years from poor families.
- Gram Panchayat will play a key role in generating awareness about the programme, facilitate mobilization of candidates, and assist in job melas and in tracking candidate placements.
- Mandatory coverage of socially disadvantaged groups (SC/ST 50%; Minority 15%; Women 33%).
- Guaranteed Placement for at least 75% trained candidates.
- Greater emphasis on projects for poor rural youth in Jammu and Kashmir (HIMAYAT), the North-East region and 27 Left-Wing Extremist (LWE) districts (ROSHINI).
- Explain how the scheme has been different from the past ones aiming at the same objectives?
- Discuss the merits and demerits associated.
Conclusion
Conclude with significance of such schemes in welfare of rural India.
General Studies – 3
Topic : Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment
Why this question:
A new report from UN’s Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, the most comprehensive assessment of the global ecosystems to date, has provided as an indictment of how humans have treated the Earth. The report highlights the alarming situation of ecosystem degradation.
Key demand of the question:
The answer is straightforward, one must discuss in detail the significance of mainstreaming biodiversity and ecosystem concerns in policy-making.
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:
write a few introductory lines , highlight the findings of the report.
Body:
Answers must discuss the following aspects :
- Provide for a narration on the present conditions of ecosystem.
- Explain why the situation is grim?
- What are the Main causes of the deterioration of the natural ecosystem? – land-use change, overfishing, pollution, climate change and population growth etc.
- Explain the need for radical transformation of the systems of consumption and production to those that are resource efficient and generate less waste through the life cycle.
- Suggest upon recent steps taken by the government in this direction.
- Provide for way forward.
Conclusion –
Conclude by reasserting their significance of policy making that is centric to biodiversity and ecosystem conservation.
Topic: Disaster and disaster management.
Why this question:
The question is to evaluate the concept of damage control in disaster management.
Key demand of the question:
Analyse in detail the need for damage control in effectively mitigating disasters and managing the disasters effectively.
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 highlight the recent cyclone Fani that struck the East coast necessitating us to analyse the need for disaster control and damage control.
Body:
In brief discuss –
- The example of Odisha’s successful disaster management policy is a template that other vulnerable Indian states as well as other parts of the world should closely follow.
- What are the pathways to effectively control and manage disasters? – discuss the need of understanding the types of damages- Infrastructure; Electricity and telecommunications, need for restoring damaged highways and district roads, health system etc.
- Use the Odisha cyclone as a case study to best explain the answer.
- Highlight the learnings, discuss what should be the way forward.
Conclusion:
Conclude by reasserting that understanding disasters is of prime importance to resolve and fix them..
Topic: Security challenges, terrorism
Why this question:
The article highlights how the recent brutal attacks on Easter Sunday in Sri Lanka, for which the Islamic State (IS) claimed responsibility, have reignited discussion on the global ‘War on Terror’.
Key demand of the question:
The answer must evaluate the global efforts for war on terror. The question aims to bring out the shortcoming of such an effort that is leading to continued incidences of such terror attacks across the globe.
Directive word:
Elucidate – Give 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:
In a few introductory lines narrate the background – highlight the recent incidence of terror attack in Sri Lanka.
Body:
The answer must elucidate upon what is Global War on Terrorism?
What are its shortcomings? Why is it failing to address the issue of terrorism? – discuss the issue of religious terrorism, use the case study of recent terror attack that Sri lanka witnessed. Discuss how global efforts have failed to address the issue. Suggest what needs to be done to overcome the issue and address the menace of global terrorism.
Conclusion:
Conclude with what should be the way forward.
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