[Insights Secure – 2019] Daily UPSC Mains Answer Writing Practice: 06 July 2019
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Tomorrow’s Static Topic: Food processing and related industries in India- scope and significance, location,
upstream and downstream requirements, supply chain management.
General Studies – 1
Topic: Indian Culture, Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment.
Yojana April 2019 – Magic of Gifted Hands: Empowering Handicraft Artisans
Why this question:
The question is about discussing the importance of Indian handicrafts and its contribution to the economy, the challenges it faces and the solutions to it.
Key demand of the question:
One has to bring out the significant place the handicraft industry holds in contributing to the economy and in what way it is facing challenges on various fronts.
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:
Highlight some facts on the Indian handicrafts industry with its importance.
Body:
Start by stating how our country is gifted with a rich range of beautiful handicrafts. Almost every state of the country has its unique handicrafts. These products are a part and parcel of the culture of the concerned communities. Passed on from generation to generation, these handicrafts have the potential of sustaining the artisans economically.
Explain in detail role of handicrafts in the Indian economy.
What are the specific challenges?
How can these challenges be addressed?
Conclusion:
Conclude that skill up gradation and development in handicraft sector is an excellent approach for development of artisans, poverty reduction and providing income generation which would also help in achievement of sustainable development goals and thus contribute majorly to the economy.
General Studies – 2
Topic: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests, Indian diaspora.
Why this question:
More than a year ago, the U.S. unilaterally abrogated the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). After this, the U.S. began to squeeze the Iranian economy using sanctions. The latest round of sanctions was announced in June 2019.Post this, Iran announced that it had exceeded a limit set by the JCPOA on its stockpile of nuclear fuel.
Key demand of the question:
The answer must bring out the prevailing situation between US-Iran. Factors responsible for the conflict between the two and what needs to be done to address the challenge.
Directive:
Critically analyze – When asked to analyse, 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:
Briefly narrate the ongoing conflict with some background of the issue.
Body:
One can explain that a closer look of the situation reveals a simpler underlying reality that the Donald Trump administration is using the U.S.’s clout in an old-fashioned attempt to assert the country’s hegemony; Iran is just doing whatever it can to resist U.S. pressure.
Then provide a brief history of relations between the two countries.
Discuss about the impact the conflict has on India and what should be the way forward.
Conclusion:
What needs to be done to resolve the conflict and in what way India should absorb the possible repercussions.
Topic: Government Budgeting. Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment.
Why this question:
The article talks about how Wealth inequality in India has been alarming and in what way Inheritance tax and its reintroduction can prevent the concentration of income and wealth in the hands of a few.
Demand of the question:
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
Define what is an inheritance tax.
Body
Explain that an inheritance tax, coupled with associated tax reforms, can potentially prevent the concentration of income and wealth in the hands of a few, reduce intra-generational inequality, promote inter-generational equity, and serve a meaningful purpose to address the distributional gaps that exist in India today.
Explain that an inheritance tax, if implemented well, can potentially help the government exchequer at a time when it has been scouting for additional sources of revenue to bridge the persistent gap between fiscal targets and outcomes. Recent policies on farm loan waivers, bank recapitalization, universal health insurance, and the expansion of other social sector programmes will pose significant challenges in maintaining fiscal prudence.
List all the benefits and suggest what needs to be done.
Conclusion
Conclude with importance of such tax initiatives and reforms for the betterment of the economy.
Topic: Issues related to direct and indirect farm subsidies and minimum support prices; Public Distribution System- objectives, functioning, limitations, revamping; issues of buffer stocks and food security; Technology missions; economics of animal-rearing.
Why this question:
The question is based on the theme of Subsidies.
Key demand of the question:
The answer must evaluate in what way subsidies often fail to achieve their actual intent and end up becoming a problem in themselves.
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 on what you understand by subsidies.
Body:
Discussion should include the following:
Paint a picture of the history of subsidies as a concept that evolved in India since independence and that the basic objective of the public distribution system in India is to provide essential consumer goods at cheap and subsidized prices to the consumers so as to insulate them from the impact of rising prices of these commodities and maintain the minimum nutritional status of our population.
Explain the associated challenges, advantages and disadvantages.
Discuss in detail the problems of public distribution system in India.
Conclusion:
Conclude with way can be done to overcome the issue and make the concept work .
Topic: Issues related to direct and indirect farm subsidies and minimum support prices; Public Distribution System- objectives, functioning, limitations, revamping; issues of buffer stocks and food security; Technology missions; economics of animal-rearing.
Why this question:
The question is to evaluate What is public distribution system what is its importance and in what way the Aadhaar has changed the mode of functionality of the PDS.
Key demand of the question:
The answer must discuss in detail the concept of PDS, effects of Aadhar on the modalities of its working and how over a period of time it has only gotten better and that there is still scope for improvement.
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 short explain what is meant by public distribution system.
Body:
The answer should have the following dimensions covered:
What is meant by public distribution system?
What are the drawbacks of public distribution system?
What is the basic objective of public distribution system in India?
How has Aadhaar changed the mode of working of the system – pros and cons.
What are the advantages, challenges etc.
Conclusion:
Conclude with way forward.
General Studies – 4
Topic: Emotional intelligence-concepts, and their utilities and application in administration and governance.
6) Establish the co-relation between Ethics and Emotional Intelligence.(250 words)
Ethics by Lexicon publications
Why this question:
The question is based on the concept of emotional intelligence.
Key demand of the question:
Explain in detail the concept of EI and in what way it is correlated to ethics.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Define EI -It is the capability of individuals to recognize their own emotions and those of others, discern between different feelings and label them appropriately, use emotional information to guide thinking.
Body:
Explain the following in the answer body –
What is EI? Significance of EI in one’s life.
Emotional intelligence is generally said to include at least three skills: emotional awareness, or the ability to identify and name one’s own emotions; the ability to harness those emotions and apply them to tasks like thinking and problem solving; and the ability to manage emotions, which includes both regulating one’s own emotions when necessary and helping others to do the same.
Discuss how good EI highlights good ethical understanding and sound morals.
In what way the two are related – one can best explain it using suitable examples.
Conclusion:
Conclude by reasserting significance of the EI.
Topic: Aptitude and foundational values for Civil Service
Ethics by Lexicon publications
Why this question:
The question is based on the concept of self-control.
Key demand of the question:
Explain in detail what is meant by self-control and provide for different perspectives.
Directive:
Illustrate – A similar instruction to ‘explain’ whereby you are asked to show the workings of something, making use of definite examples and statistics if appropriate to add weight to your explanation.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Define self-control.
Body:
Self-control, an aspect of inhibitory control, is the ability to regulate one’s emotions, thoughts, and behavior in the face of temptations and impulses.
Explain that Self-control is the skill needed to achieve any goal or desired outcome. People with a lot of self-control have the motivation and ability to override their unwanted impulses and desires.
Explain what happens when people fail to exercise self-control, discuss its relevance in various walks of life – private, public even its effect on civil servants; one can detail using suitable examples.
Conclusion:
Conclude with its importance. sometimes one acta in accordance with their deliberative better judgment, and sometimes one fails to do so, choosing a course of action in total conflict with those better judgments,
It must then have to do with the individual’s inner system of self-control — that set of principles that govern their particular mind and behavior.
NOTE:
