[Insights Secure – 2019] Daily UPSC Mains Answer Writing Practice: 01 October 2019
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INSIGHTS NEW SECURE – 2019: YEARLONG TIMETABLE
General Studies – 1
Topic: population and associated issues, poverty and developmental issues, urbanization, their problems and their remedies.
Why this question:
Data from the first-ever national nutrition survey conducted by the Centre, yet to be made public, shows that obesity and under nutrition coexist in India, among children. Health experts have raised concerns over the delay in release of the survey.
Key demand of the question:
One has to explain the prevalence of the double whammy facing the country and the causes leading to it along with solutions to overcome the situation.
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 discuss the Comprehensive National Nutrition Survey and its findings.
Body:
Bring out the key findings of the survey such as – Out of the children in the age group of 5-9 years and adolescents in the age group of 10-19 years are
- 10% are pre-diabetic
- 5% are overweight
- 5% suffer from blood pressure.
The study found prevalence of indicators of non-communicable diseases alongside indicators of under nutrition shown by various NFHS surveys such as stunting, wasting and underweight.
The survey provides for the first time hard evidence of the coexistence of obesity and under nutrition, among school-going children.
Discuss the key role that India’s nutrition policy has to play to address the concerns.
Conclusion:
Conclude with need for revamping national nutrition policy in addressing the issues.
Topic: Modern Indian history from about the middle of the eighteenth century until the present. The Freedom Struggle – its various stages and important contributors /contributions from different parts of the country.
Modern history by Spectrum publications
Why this question:
The question is from the static portions of GS paper I.
Key demand of the question:
One must explain in detail the key features of Self-Respect Movement and its impact on the social setup of the society.
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:
Introduce the answer by giving the nature, purpose or significance of the movement.
Body:
Explain briefly the objectives of the movement.
Discuss the achievements of the movement along with criticism.
Explain that the Self-Respect Movement played a significant role in the political, social and religious life of the people of South India. It brought the message of the Tamil Nationalism to the masses
Discuss the challenges and how the movement dissipated towards the end.
Conclusion:
Conclude with the significance the movement holds even as of today.
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 presents that the curfews, detentions and lockdown in Kashmir have only made the border, and our forces, more vulnerable. Thus it is necessary to analyse whether security imperatives can supersede democratic and human rights.
Key demand of the question:
One must discuss in detail whether security imperatives can supersede democratic and human rights in the Kashmir issue.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
In brief explain the ongoing conditions in Kashmir.
Body:
Explain whether the arguments of security, economic and welfare to justify new Kashmir policy are fair.
Explain in detail the factor of whether, and at which point, security imperatives can supersede democratic and human rights.
Present both arguments in favour and against.
Present your opinion with fair and balanced judgment.
Conclusion:
Conclude with what should be the strategy to handle the situation.
Topic: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.
Why this question:
The article suggests that The colonial law of sedition, meant to suppress and dissent still persists. Used as a political tool, it has deprived people of liberty. Thus, it is time to scrap it.
Key demand of the question:
Explain what is the British-era sedition law that India still inherits and upholds, what are the consequences, why is the law outliving its utility.
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 judgment.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
In brief explain what Indian Sedition law is.
Body:
First explain the colonial origin of sedition law.
The British regimes enacted it in order to suppress political and cultural dissent and many of the most famous figures of the freedom struggle including Gandhi were sent to jail on charges of sedition.
Explain why in 1962, the SC upheld the constitutional validity of sedition law.
Discuss the necessity to scrap the law that is outdated and has been outliving its utility.
Conclusion:
Conclude with way forward.
General Studies – 3
Topic: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment. Achievements of Indians in science & technology; indigenization of technology and developing new technology.
Why this question:
The article captures that the government is mulling over excluding medicines made from locally manufactured active pharmaceutical ingredient (API)—the key raw material for the production of a drug—from price control. The move, according to a Mint report, is aimed at pushing manufacture of APIs in India to reduce import dependence.
Key demand of the question:
One has to discuss in depth the need to do away the price controlling policies by the government with respect to APIs in the pharma industry so as to boost the Make in India drive for the sector.
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 what APIs are.
Body:
Discuss the context of the question as to what steps the government is trying to take.
Explain in what way the price control was affecting domestic manufacture of pharma products.
Discuss the nuances of Draft Pharmaceuticals Policy 2017,
Justify that if the government is serious about Make in India for APIs and boosting R&D spending by pharmaceutical companies, it must shun price controls as a policy measure. To keep medicines affordable for the masses, it must subsidize through bulk purchases for its Jan Aushadhi and other outlets.
Conclusion:
Conclude with way forward.
Topic: Disaster and disaster management.
Why this question:
The article discusses how extreme rainfall events are on the rise in the country. Long dry spells, accompanied with more intense rainfall concentrated over fewer days, are becoming the norm.
Key demand of the question:
One has to explain the causative factors and the relationship between Climate change and poor urban planning and how it can be addressed.
Directive:
Critically evaluate – When asked to evaluate, 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 judgment.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
In brief discuss the recent extreme weather events in short.
Body:
Explain in detail the causative factors of these extreme weather events.
Discuss with suitable case studies – floods, dry spells etc.
Explain that the floods, especially in urban India, are taking place not just due to climate change, but also inadequate urban planning, which has not paid attention to natural water bodies and has forgotten the “art of drainage”.
Expand on the linkages between urban planning and its correlation with extreme events of weather.
Conclusion:
Conclude with way forward.
Topic: Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life.
Why this question:
Recently, A pilot project for ushering in Industry 4.0 in the country has been launched at the Modern Coach Factory in Uttar Pradesh’s Raebareli.
Key demand of the question:
The question seeks to discuss the relevance and progress of Industrial revolution 4.0 for Indian economy.
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 Industrial revolution 4.0. – The fourth Industrial Revolution describes the present technological age ongoing in 21st century that has come up since the first such revolution took place in the 18th century.
Body:
- Explain the context of India and its progress on IR 4.0.
- India has become the fourth country in the world where World Economic Forum has opened its centre for Fourth Industrial Revolution.
- Hence, India is preparing for a massive digital and technological transformation.
- The centre for Fourth Industrial Revolution works as a network that includes USA, China and Japan.
- The centre would be based in Maharashtra and it has selected drones, artificial intelligence and block chain as the first three project areas.
- NITI Aayog will coordinate the partnership on behalf of the government and the work of the centre among multiple ministries.
Conclusion:
Conclude with way forward.
NOTE:
