[Insights Secure – 2019] Daily UPSC Mains Answer Writing Practice: 20 May 2019
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INSIGHTS NEW SECURE – 2019: YEARLONG TIMETABLE
Tomorrow’s Static Topic: Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in
everyday life.
General Studies – 1
Topic: Indian Culture, Salient features of Indian Society, Diversity of India.
Why this question:
The question is straightforward and is about discussing the role played by Bhakti movement in the Indian society in terms of addressing the social evils and contributing towards vernacular literature.
Demand of the question:
The answer must explain the significance of Bhakti movement in detail with special focus on two fronts namely the – overcoming of social issues and its contributions to the vernacular literature.
Directive:
Comment– here we have to express our knowledge and understanding of the issue and form an overall opinion thereupon.
Structure of the answer:
The answer to the question is direct, one must discuss in detail how the Bhakti movement, which started around the 6th century (AD) and spanned all the way to the 18th century, in many ways broke barriers of gender, class and caste. At the same time, it shattered stereotypes associated with the perception of spiritualism; denounced orthodoxy and the rigid ritualistic practices of worship, and established a more personal and informal connection between the devotee and the divine.
From Basavanna and Akka Mahadevi in Karnataka, Janabai and Tukaram in Maharashtra to Kabir, Tulsidas and Mirabai in North India and Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Sarada Devi in West Bengal — these mystics and poets challenged social hierarchy and questioned ‘rules’ of seeking salvation.
Comment on the contributions to the vernacular languages.
Conclusion:
Conclude by reasserting the significance.
General Studies – 2
Topic: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health. Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development.
Why this question:
The article discusses in detail the current scenario of malnourishment prevalent in the country. It narrates the compelling reasons for us to think of simpler and effective strategies like fortification of food staples with essential micronutrients like iron and vitamin to deal with the issues of stunting, wasting, anemia etc.
Demand of the question:
The question is about discussing the issue of Malnourishment, its prevalence in India and in what way it has become a public health emergency. One must emphasise on how fortification of food is a way forward to tackle the menace.
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.
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
Start with brief introduction of the current scenario in the country.
Body
Discuss the following points in detail:
- Highlight how Malnutrition affects Indian population? – quote facts like; iron deficiency contributes to 20% of maternal deaths and is associated with nearly half of all maternal deaths in India. Malnutrition extends to the children that women with anemia give birth to. They often have low birth weight, are pre-term, and suffer from poor development and lower mental abilities. Lack of essential nutrients in the diet makes growing children weak and make them under nourished etc.
- Why has it become a public health emergency?
- Discuss why other missions to tackle malnutrition haven’t been able to succeed fully – National Food Security Act (NFSA), a free Mid-day Meal Scheme (MDM), National nutrition mission etc.
- Discuss what is Food fortification and its importance and relevance to Indian case.
- Conclude by listing governments efforts in this direction.
Conclusion
Conclude with way forward.
Topic: Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability, e-governance- applications, models, successes, limitations, and potential; citizens charters, transparency & accountability and institutional and other measures.
Why this question:
The article brings to light various instances where serious loss of credibility of democratic institutions has been witnessed across the world and amidst such conditions it highlights the role played by Civil society in preserving and restoring the tenets of Democracy.
Key demands of the question:
The answer must briefly discuss the role of Civil society in maintaining a true democracy by protecting the institutions that are bulwarks of democracy.
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 explain what you understand by civil societies.
Body
The body of the answer has to capture the following aspects:
- Explain few incidences across the world highlighting the erosion of democratic values and its degradation.
- Discuss how democracy has been protected by civil society- how it has critiqued the faults of various regimes, role played by them in assistance of the government in restoring institutions that form the bulwark of democracy, keep vigil on complicit office-holders etc.
- Discuss Why is civil society important for democracy?
- Conclude with how Civil society organizations engage in advocating the public’s rights and wishes of the people, including but not limited to health, environment and economic rights. They fulfill important duties of checks and balances in democracies, they are able to influence the government and hold it accountable.
Conclusion
Conclude by reasserting their importance.
Topic:Salient features of the Representation of People’s Act.
Why this question:
Last evening soon after the last phase of elections were declared to be complete exit polls have been meted out by Media. Thus, it is an important theme from the exam point of view.
Key demand of the question:
The answer must evaluate what is the concept of exit poll, how is it different from opinion poll and why ECI is opposed to the media coverage of the two concepts during the period of election process.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin with basic definitions of the two.
Body:
Discussion should include the following aspects –
- Explain What are exit & opinion polls? –
- An opinion poll is a pre-election survey to gather voters’ views on a range of election-related issues.
- An exit poll, on the other hand, is conducted immediately after people have voted, and assesses the support for political parties and their candidates.
- Explain why ECI is opposed to them during the period of ongoing elections?
- Both kinds of polls can be controversial if the agency conducting them is perceived to be biased.
- The projections of these surveys can be influenced by the choice, wording and timing of the questions, and by the nature of the sample drawn.
- Political parties often allege that many opinions and exit polls are motivated and sponsored by their rivals, and could have a distorting effect on the choices voters make in a protracted election, rather than simply reflecting public sentiment or views.
Discuss both pros and cons , explain the other practices across different countries and provide for a brief comparison.
Conclusion:
Conclude with way forward signifying importance of freedom of speech at the same time the reasoned account of such decisions made by ECI.
General Studies – 3
Topic: Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life.
Why this question:
The article discusses in detail the significance of mission shakti to India. The question thus is to analyse the concerns of space debris and the issues surrounding and questioning the utility of space mission shakti.
Key demand of the question:
Answer must provide for an analysis of Mission Shakti, its effects on space debris and weigh the merits and demerits of the mission.
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:
In a few introductory lines highlight the context of the question.
Body:
- In brief discuss what you understand by Space debris? – Initially, the term space debris referred to the natural debris found in the solar system: asteroids, comets, and meteoroids. However, with the 1979 beginning of the NASA Orbital Debris Program, the term also refers to the debris from the mass of defunct, artificially created objects in space, especially Earth orbit.
- Discuss why are they harmful?
- Salient features of mission shakti.
- What is the debate of space debris and mission shakti?
- How are space debris a threat to human life?
- What needs to be done?
Conclusion:
Conclude with way forward.
Topic : Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life.
Why this question:
The question is to assess the Biotechnology sector in India, its potential growth and initiatives taken by the government in this direction.
Key demand of the question:
The answer is straightforward and it must narrate upon the biotechnology sector of the country, its potential and 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:
write a few introductory lines on what you understand by Biotechnology.
Body:
Answers must discuss the following aspects :
- Quote some facts of Biotechnology sector in India – Indian biotechnology sector has crossed the $ 3 billion milestones and is growing at the rate of more than 30% over the last few years.
- Potential – India could even achieve the target of attaining $20 billion by 2020.
- Discuss the notable trends of the sector in India.
- Explain the benefits of the sector in terms of everyday application in fields of science, Industry, agriculture, animal husbandry, human health etc.
- Conclude with pros and cons and how the pros should outweigh the cons of the technology.
Conclusion –
Conclude with significance of the Industry on economic and social fronts.
General Studies – 4
Topic: Role of media and social networking sites
Why this question:
The article discusses in detail how social media influence democracy.
Key demand of the question:
The answer must debate that there are several positives that social media brings to the table, including affordable access to information, voicing voter concerns, and adding another communication channel between voters and politicians. But social media has just as many pitfalls — some that are already being addressed, others that both social media companies and governments continue to examine. thus users of social platforms, it is becoming increasingly important to be aware of these pitfalls.
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 the role of social media in general.
Body:
- Highlight why social media is important to a democracy?
- How does media strengthen democracy?
- What is the relationship between media and democracy in general? Discuss the specific case of social media.
- What are the issues associated?
- Explain how can one handle these issues, explain what needs to be done.
Conclusion:
Conclude with what should be the way forward.
Topic: ethical concerns and dilemmas
Why this question:
Recently in the United States, the Alabama Senate has passed a bill banning abortion. The legislation bans any termination of pregnancy and punishing doctors who perform the procedure with life in prison. The state Senate yesterday approved the law by 25 votes to six, rejecting exemptions for cases of rape or incest.
Key demand of the question:
The answer must debate about the ethical angle involved in the above decision on abortion, the answer must argue the merits and demerits associated with such a judgement.
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:
In a few introductory lines explain the context of the question.
Body:
- Highlight the current scenario – discuss the Alabama human life protection act.
- Salient features of the bill –
- It places a near-total ban on the termination of pregnancy — even in cases of rape and incest.
- Abortions would only be legal if the life of the mother is in danger or the fetus has a fatal condition.
- Performing an abortion is a crime that could land doctors who perform it in prison for 10 to 99 years.
- Unlike the doctors carrying out the procedures, women who undergo abortions would not be prosecuted.
- Then move to discuss what are the ethical issues involved, debate the women rights of reproduction vs freedom to choose to live of the unborn.
Conclusion:
Conclude with a fair and balanced opinion.
NOTE:
