[Insights Secure – 2019] Daily UPSC Mains Answer Writing Practice: 18 June 2019
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INSIGHTS NEW SECURE – 2019: YEARLONG TIMETABLE
Tomorrow’s Static Topic: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating
to Health, Education, Human Resources.
General Studies – 2
Topic:Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.
Why this question:
The article provides for a critical analysis of draft emigration policy of India, it brings out the associated concerns and suggests what should be the way forward.
Demand of the question:
The answer must discuss the emigration bill draft in detail and bring out the pros and cons.
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
Start with brief narration of the features of the Draft emigration bill.
Body
One can have the following points in the answer:
Economic Growth: A good transportation system is an important selling point to communities that desire to attract development that provides for employment and growth of a city. If transport costs due to congestion increase, goods and services produced within that city tend to increase in costs thus losing competitiveness in international markets. Efficient transportation access is therefore a very important consideration as it has a direct impact on sound and sustainable economic growth and productivity. The cost of congestion in the Western Province of Sri Lanka is over Rs 20,000 million per year (around 2 percent of Regional GDP). This includes the cost of productive time and wastage of fuel.
Quality-of-Life: To some people, congested highways are a symptom of deteriorating quality-of-life-in a community. The amount of time that is spent on commuting to and from work is also in reality, time that is taken away from social interactions or pursuit of activities that have a personal value and satisfaction.
- Discuss about what are the features it currently is providing?
- Comprehensive emigration management,
- To institute regulatory mechanisms governing overseas employment of Indian nationals.
- To establish a framework for protection and promotion of welfare of emigrants.
- Discuss the key features of the bill in detail.
- Explain what are the key concerns that still remain unaddressed?
Conclusion
Conclude with way forward.
Topic: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.
Why this question:
Several children have died in the Muzaffarpur district of north Bihar, due to Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES). The AES cases in Muzaffarpur, Bihar and adjoining litchi producing districts have been observed mostly from April to June, particularly in children who are undernourished with a history of visiting litchi orchards.
Key demand of the question:
The article discusses in detail the policy lacunae in focusing upon the health crisis. One has to analyse the causes and the consequences of the such policy irregularities.
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:
Begin with brief introduction on the background of the question.
Body:
Discussion should include the following:
- First define what is acute encephalitis syndrome – It is a severe case of encephalitis transmitted by mosquitoes and is characterized by high fever and inflammation of the brain.
- The World Health Organization (WHO) in 2006, coined the term AES to signify a group of diseases which seem similar to one another but are difficult to differentiate in the chaotic environment of an outbreak.
- The disease most commonly affects children and young adults and can lead to considerable morbidity and mortality.
- Discuss the government initiatives in this direction, what were the lacunae in the policy framework? Etc.
- Suggest what needs to be done?
Conclusion:
Conclude by reasserting the importance of strong policy framework which is multi -pronged as well as focused.
Topic: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.
Why this question:
Recently Farmer groups have alleged that Bt brinjal, a genetically modified variety, is being cultivated illegally in Haryana. India banned Bt brinjal in 2010. The debate around BT brinjal started in 2000 when Mahyco (Maharashtra Hybrid Seeds Co) came up with a GM brinjal. Seeds were exported to Bangladesh and Philippines in 2006, as the civil society resisted field trials in India.
Key demand of the question:
The answer must discuss the prospects, challenges and concerns associated with cultivation of Bt Brinjal.
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:
Begin with brief introduction on the current context of the question.
Body:
Discussion should include the following:
What are Bt crops? What are their prospects?
Issues and concerns associated to their cultivation?
Explain the effect of it on agriculture system; farmer’s income etc.Provide for pros and cons and draw a balanced opinion.
Conclusion:
Conclude with a balanced opinion as to what needs to be done
Topic: Isues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, urbanization, their problems and their remedies.
Why this question:
The article highlights Global Metro Monitor 2018 reports which says that Nine Indian metros feature in the top 150 ranks of the economic performance index. By 2030, India will have 71 metropolitan cities, of which seven would have a population of more than 10 million.
Key demand of the question:
Amidst growing metro regions in India , the question seeks to discuss the role that the metropolis would play in shaping Indian urban landscape.
Directive:
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:
Begin with brief introduction on the report statistics.
Body:
Discussion should include the following:
First explain what are metropolis – Metropolitan areas concentrate and accelerate wealth as these are agglomerations of scale that concentrate higher-level economic functions.
Discuss how they play a role in changing the urban landscape.
Then discuss the challenges associated with this growing urban picture.
What needs to be done?
Conclusion:
Conclude by way forward.
General Studies – 3
Topic :Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment
Why this question:
World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought was observed on June 17, 2019 with the theme “Let’s grow the future together”. Thus, it is important for us to evaluate the theme.
Key demand of the question:
One has to discuss in detail the concept of Desertification, causes and the concerns posed by it and then evaluate the role played by UNCCD in addressing these concerns so far.
Directive:
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:
Begin with brief introduction on the background of the question.
Body:
Discussion should include the following:
- Desertification according to United Nations: Desertification is the degradation of land in arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas. Desertification does not refer to the expansion of existing deserts.
- Causes: It is caused primarily by human activities and climatic variations. It occurs because dryland ecosystems, which cover over one third of the world ‘s land area, are extremely vulnerable to overexploitation and inappropriate land use.
- Global scenario: According to United Nations, every year, the world loses 24 billion tons of fertile soil and dryland degradation reduces national domestic product in developing countries by up to 8 % annually.
- Goal 15 of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development states our resolve to halt and reverse land degradation.
- Suggest solutions – as to what needs to be done?
Conclusion:
Conclude with way forward.
General Studies – 4
Topic: Emotional Intelligence
Ethics by Lexicon publications
Why this question:
The question is being asked in the backdrop of the recent protests by the doctors that was witnessed in West Bengal.
Key demand of the question:
The answer must discuss the role played by EI in such situations.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin with brief introduction on what you understand by EI.
Body:
Discussion should include the following:
Emotional intelligence of civil servants is essential to limit the spread of the crisis and also to calm down the tensions during riot situations.
Explain what measures can be taken to improvise on EI like – Inculcating the spirit of constitutional values in the civil servants. Creating frameworks for holding accountable on outcomes. Training and workshops focusing on the team and emotional aspects of work. Creating a broader code of ethics to enable their discretion in moments of doubt. Creating conducive work environment to balance professional and personal life.
Conclusion:
Conclude by reasserting significance of EI in civil services and for public servants.
Topic : Environmental ethics
Ethics by Lexicon
Why this question:
The question is direct and is based on the concept of environmental ethics.
Key demand of the question:
One must discuss the concept of environmental ethics applied to current day conditions.
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:
Begin with brief introduction on what is environmental ethics.
Body:
Discussion should include the following:
Environmental ethics is a branch of ethics that studies the relation of human beings and the environment and how ethics play a role in this. Environmental ethics believe that humans are a part of society as well as other living creatures, which includes plants and animals.
It is about extending the traditional boundaries of ethics from solely including humans to including the non-human world.
Discuss the advantages of practicing environmental ethics.
Conclusion:
Conclude with way forward.
NOTE:
