[Insights Secure – 2019] Daily UPSC Mains Answer Writing Practice: 23 September 2019
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INSIGHTS NEW SECURE – 2019: YEARLONG TIMETABLE
General Studies – 1
Topic: Salient features of world’s physical geography.
Why this question:
Since the past 15 years, Atlantic Meridional overturning circulation (AMOC) has been weakening — a development that could have dramatic consequences for Europe and other parts of the Atlantic rim. Warming up of Indian Ocean is said to be a key driver behind this. Thus it is important from exam point of view for us to examine the concept in detail.
Key demand of the question:
The question is straightforward; one must explain the concept of Atlantic Meridional Overturning Current in detail and its linkages with warming of Indian Ocean.
Directive:
Explain – Clarify the topic by giving 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 brief define AMOC.
Body:
First explain what the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation is.
Then discuss the concept in detail, use facts from the article and detail upon how it affects the Indian Ocean and vice-versa.
Conclusion:
Conclude with significance of understanding such phenomena’s for their applications in understanding changing whether patterns.
General Studies – 2
Topic: Indian Constitution– historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure.
Why this question:
In a recent move, The Centre is considering a constitutional amendment to define the term ‘office of profit’ and the exempted categories. The draft amendment proposes to exempt advisors appointed by the Centre or states and those appointed to discharge legislative functions such as leader of opposition, chief whips, etc. from disqualification related to the ‘office of profit’.
Key demand of the question:
The answer must explain the concept of office of profit in detail and how it leads to disqualification in certain specific cases.
Directive:
Explain – Clarify the topic by giving 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 brief define what an office of profit is.
Body:
Explain what the issue concerning office of profit, why MPs and MLAs should not hold office of profit.
Discuss what are the changes suggested in the draft bill aiming at the constitutional amendment. – The draft bill proposes to bring in clear definitions with amendments to sub-clause 1(a) of Article 102 which deals with disqualification.
Conclusion:
Conclude with the significance associated with such changes in the definition and ambit of the concept.
Topic: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.
Why this question:
The Union Cabinet recently approved a ban on all forms of electronic cigarettes including Electronic Nicotine Delivery System (ENDS), amid growing fears over the health risks posed by vaping. The ban has been approved following the recommendations of a Group of Ministers (GoM) headed by the Finance Minister.
Key demand of the question:
The answer should discuss in detail the coming of the ban of e-cigarettes and the relevance of such a decision.
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:
Define what e-cigarettes are.
Body:
Explain the coming of the ban, then move on to discuss the significance that once the ban comes into force, consumption, production, manufacturing, import, export, transport, sale, distribution, storage and advertisement of e-cigarettes would become illegal and any violation would be treated as a cognizable offence punishable with imprisonment of up to one year, or fine up to ₹1 lakh, or both for the first offence; and imprisonment of up to three years and fine up to ₹5 lakh for a subsequent offence.
Analyse the pros and cons of such a decision.
Conclusion:
Conclude with way forward.
Topic: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests, Indian diaspora.
Why this question:
Howdy, Modi became one of the most anticipated global events of 2019 where Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed over 50,000 attendees during his US visit in Houston, Texas.
Key demand of the question:
One has to bring out the changing trends in Indo-US ties and in what way they affirm the changing strategic partnership between the two countries.
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 brief narrate the background of the question.
Body:
Explain the following aspects of the event:
- This is an Indian community event.
- It was hosted by Texas India Forum (TIF).
- The American President Donald Trump joined PM Modi at the Howdy Modi event to reaffirm the strategic partnership between the world’s largest and oldest democracies.
- TIF said that Howdy Modi was the largest gathering for an invited foreign leader visiting the US other than the Pope.
Conclusion:
Conclude with significance of strategic partnership between the two countries.
Topic: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests, Indian diaspora. Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.
Why this question:
A key question for climate scientists in recent years has been whether the Atlantic Ocean’s main circulation system is slowing down, a development that could have dramatic consequences for Europe and other parts of the Atlantic rim. But a new study suggests help may be on the way from an unexpected source – the Indian Ocean.
Key demand of the question:
Explain in what way the Indian Ocean is one of the fingerprints of global warming.
Directive:
Critically 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. 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 brief explain the significance of Indian ocean in understanding the changing global weather patterns.
Body:
First explain how Indian ocean can effect or have consequences of global weather patterns.
Explain Atlantic Meridional overturning circulation and how Indian ocean affects it.
Discus in what way the Indian ocean is an indicator of global warming.
Conclusion:
Conclude that Warming of the Indian Ocean is considered one of the most robust aspects of global warming and thus it is essential to understand and acknowledge the significance of the same.
General Studies – 3
Topic: food security.
Why this question:
The question aims to ascertain the role of “reducing food loss and waste” in achieving sustainable development goals. And key role played by women in addressing the same.
Key demand of the question:
One must explain in detail the role of women in managing the global food losses and wastes and in what way it is necessary to achieve SDGs.
Directive:
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 describe the Food Loss and Waste that is occurring globally.
Body:
Explain how “reducing food loss and waste” performs against the sustainable food future criteria.
State the possible approaches to save the food that can be taken.
Discuss the role of women in reducing food loss and waste.
Conclusion:
Conclude that a “war on waste” has yet to be waged when it comes to food. Given that food prices recently hit historic highs and global food demand continues to rise, now is the time.
General Studies – 4
Topic: Public/Civil service values and Ethics in Public administration: Status and problems; ethical concerns and dilemmas in government and private institutions; laws, rules, regulations and conscience as sources of ethical guidance; accountability and ethical governance; strengthening of ethical and moral values in governance; ethical issues in international relations and funding; corporate governance.
Ethics by Lexicon publications
Why this question:
It is certain that democracy and human capital are consistently related to transparency, accountability, and their relations with Open Government Partnership are necessary. Thus one has to evaluate the relevance of these values.
Key demand of the question:
Explain the significance of Transparency, Participation and accountability through an Open Government.
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 brief define – Transparency, Participation and accountability.
Body:
Explain that Openness through transparency becomes a means to greater civic participation in an enabled environment, where there is effective free flow of information both ways, to see through the working of the government; and to verify whether or not public servants are meeting their obligations to expectations of citizens.
All the four components of accountability i.e. answerability, sanction, redress, and system improvement need information to account for unacceptable conduct, decisions, and actions. The gaps in conventional supply side accountability have led to the emergence of demand side accountability. “Social Accountability is the institutionalization of durable societal control over policies and their implementation. Civil society is progressively showing tremendous potential to participate directly in institutions of horizontal accountability.
Conclusion:
Conclude with way forward.
NOTE:
