[Insights Secure – 2019] Daily UPSC Mains Answer Writing Practice: 08 July 2019
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INSIGHTS NEW SECURE – 2019: YEARLONG TIMETABLE
Tomorrow’s Static Topic: Land reforms in India
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 Nagaland government is initiating an exercise to prepare a master list of all indigenous inhabitants of the State. This list, called the Register of Indigenous Inhabitants of Nagaland (RIIN), is seen as a localised version of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) that Assam began updating four years ago and is scheduled to complete by July 31.
Key demand of the question:
The answer must analyse the pros and cons of such an act taken by the government which is intended to prevent fake ‘indigenous inhabitants’ certificates.
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:
State the facts related to the move taken by the government of Nagaland with respect to the indigenous inhabitants.
Body:
Discussion should have the following aspects covered:
What is Nagaland’s initiative? what is the intent?
What is the procedure of the survey – discuss the detailed technicalities.
What can be the possible challenges?
list the pros and cons and conclude in what way it can best benefit the people of Nagaland.
Conclusion:
Conclude with a balanced opinion that with proper measures and survey in place the positives of such a move are greater than the negatives.
Topic: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests
Why this question:
At the 34th summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Bangkok in June, its member states finally managed to articulate a collective vision for the Indo-Pacific region in a document titled “The ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific”.
Demand of the question:
The answer must capture a detailed analysis of the role of ASEAN and its emerging role in the Indo-Pacific region.
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
In brief explain the context of the question.
Body
First explain that the for a long time, the ASEAN has been reluctant to frontally engage with the Indo-Pacific discourse as the perception was that it may antagonize China. But there was soon a realization that such an approach might allow others to shape the regional architecture and marginalize the ASEAN itself. And so, the final outlook that the ASEAN has come up with effectively seeks to take its own position rather than following any one power’s lead.
Explain then in what way ASEAN is redefining the Indo-pacific narrative.
Explain the stakes of US and china in the regions, discuss the effects of the turf between the two.
Conclusion
Conclude with significance of ASEAN in the Indo-pacific narrative.
Topic: population and associated issues, Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.
Why this question:
Economic Survey 2018-19 has noted that “India is set to witness a sharp slowdown in population growth in the next two decades”.
Key demand of the question:
Th answer needs to analyse the effect of such a finding on fulfilling aspirations of New India. One has to critically analyse in what way the changing trends in demography can lead to challenges in jobs, employment and overall increased dependent ratio.
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:
Highlight the findings of the economic survey.
Body:
The survey had a close look at the impact of population arrest on India’s working-age population. It said as this population would rise by 96.5 million between 2021-31 and by 41.5 million between 2031-41, it would have implications for the required rate of job creation in the economy. It said “additional jobs will need to be created to keep pace with the projected annual increase in working-age population.”
One must explain in detail the possible challenges that the conditions can pose on the growth and development aspects of the country.
Conclusion:
Conclude with way forward.
General Studies – 3
Topic: poverty and developmental issues, climate change
4) How can the challenges of poverty and climate change be balanced together? Discuss.(250 words)
Why this question:
The question hints at How climate change affects people living in poverty and in what way the interlinked two can be addressed together.
Key demand of the question:
The answer must analyse that the impacts of climate change affect every country on every continent. The increased frequency and intensity of extreme weather events like hurricanes, wildfires and droughts threaten food supplies, drive people from their homes, separate families and jeopardize livelihoods. And all of these effects increase the risk of conflict, hunger and poverty. Thus, one has to address in what way the two can be addressed together.
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:
Describe the context of the question.
Body:
The answer must first analyse how poverty and climate change are interlinked to each other. In what way the challenges of the two can be addressed together.
Students must discuss in detail the possible challenges and then suggest solutions to the issue.
Conclusion:
Conclude with way forward.
Topic: Land reforms in India.
Why this question:
The question intends to analyse the practice of co-operative farming and its contributions to land reforms.
Key demand of the question:
The answer must first discuss the concept of co-operative farming and then discuss its contributions to land reforms and analyse the limitations and challenges associated.
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 you understand by co-operative farming.
Body:
Discussion should include the following:
Explain that co-operative farming is the practice of pooling of land and practicing joint agriculture.
Discuss its contribution to land reforms, quote examples, success stories where co-operative farming has acted as a game changer.
Explain the limitations/challenges encountered in inculcating the features of the co-operative farming.
Then discuss in what way it can be addressed to make it a success story.
Conclusion:
Conclude with way forward.
General Studies – 4
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 straightforward and must discuss the role of land reforms in bringing social equity.
Key demand of the question:
Explain in detail the role of land reforms in enhancing Agri productivity of the country and also in what way they ensure social equity.
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:
Discuss in brief the importance of land reforms.
Body:
Explain what are the effects of land reforms.
How does it bring increased Agri productivity?
What role do land reforms play in bringing social equity? – explain with example. Explain the following aspects –
- Land equity: Marginalized farmers got ownership over more land area and thus increase in social status.
- Credit access and increased food production > increase in income > filed the gap of income inequality.
- Abolition of zamindari curtailed exploitative practices such as beggar, bonded labour.
Though land reforms had limited success due to loopholes in law, corruption, these reforms changed the shape of Indian agrarian system. Land reforms are still going on e.g. Benami Act, Computerizations etc.
Conclusion:
Conclude by suggesting importance of land reforms in social equity.
Topic:Good governance
Ethics by Lexicon publications
Why this question:
The question is about explaining the role of government in exercising good governance.
Key demand of the question:
Explain in detail how good governance can be achieved, what is the role of government in achieving good governance. Role of different stakeholders.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Explain what you understand by good governance.
Body:
Explain the following aspects –
What are characteristics of a good governance? – Good governance has 8 major characteristics. It is participatory, consensus oriented, accountable, transparent, responsive, effective and efficient, equitable and inclusive, and follows the rule of law.
What is good governance and bad governance? – Good governance means that processes and institutions produce results that meet the needs of society while making the best use of resources at their disposal. The concept of efficiency in the context of good governance also covers the sustainable use of natural resources and the protection of the environment.
Discuss who are the actors in the process of governance?
Role of government in achieving it.
Conclusion:
Conclude with essence of good governance.
NOTE:
