[Insights Secure – 2020] Daily UPSC Mains Answer Writing Practice: 05 October 2019
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General Studies – 1
Topic: Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms, literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times.
Art and culture by Nitin Singhania
Why this question:
The question revolves around the significant connection of festivals in India with mother nature.
Key demand of the question:
The answer should discuss the significant appraisal of environment by the culture engrained in the festivals that are celebrated in the country.
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 highlight the significance of festival in Indian culture.
Body:
Bring out the fact that religious practices prevalent in Indian culture have always incorporated worshiping of sun, wind, land, trees, plants and water all of which are very base of human survival.
Quote examples – Rivers are considered sacred since Vedic period as it is around them civilizations grew. Ex:Pushkaram festival dedicated to worshiping of rivers. Dip in rivers is believed to erase all sins.
Harvest festivals are celebrated as thanksgiving to nature for the blessing of food grains to survive. Ex: Lohri festival in Punjab, Makar Sankramana in Karnataka, Bihu in Assam.
Conclusion:
Conclude with importance of culture and its inherent link with environment.
Topic:Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms, literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times.
Art and culture by Nitin Singhania/ Tamil Nadu NCERT
Why this question:
Contributions of Bhakti poets to the literature have been significant in the past along with the contributions that they made to the social upliftment of the society.
Key demand of the question:
Explain in detail the the contributions of Bhakti poets to literature and the social transformation.
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:
Brief on the genesis of Bhakti culture in India.
Body:
Explain – Bhakti movement began in the 6th century AD in southern India. It emphasized on complete devotion to the God. There was a strong bond that existed between the God and the worshipper. The movement was popularized by poets like Kabir, Tulsidas, Meerabai, Nanak dev, Basavana etc.
Discuss in what way Bhakti movement brought in the change in literary trends – Change of language, Development of new forms of literature, New class of authors(beyond caste boundaries) etc.
Explain in what way they led to social upliftment and transformation.
Conclusion:
Conclude that Bhakti tradition not only introduced literary changes, but also started trends of social transformation. It represented a break from the rites and ritual based devotion and focused on taking the spirituality to the common man.
General Studies – 2
Topic: Indian Constitution– historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure.
3) Indian federalism is a case sui generis”. Examine with necessary justifications. (250 words)
Indian polity by Lakhsmikant
Why this question:
The question is based on the statement given by Alexandrowicz in his work “Constitutional Development in India, 1957”. It was quoted because of the nature of Indian polity which could be easily called as “quasi federal or federal with unitary bias”.
Key demand of the question:
The question is straight forward and there isn’t much to deliberate, explain the concept of Indian federalism in detail.
Directive:
Examine – When asked to ‘Examine’, we must 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 what Federalism is in general.
Body:
Explain the following factors:
Discuss the federal features in the Indian constitution like
- Dual Polity
- Written constitution
- Division of Powers
- Supremacy of the constitution
- Independent judiciary
- Bicameralism etc
Then move onto discuss the tilt of the constitution towards Unitary features. For Example mention situations where centre is strong like in the cases of residuary powers, money bill, schedule 7 etc.
- India is indestructible union of destructible states. ( Art 2,3)
- Single constitution
- Constitutional amendment could be done unilaterally by parliament
- Emergency provisions
- All India services etc.
Conclusion:
Conclude that The Supreme Court in ‘ S R Bommai Case 1994’ said that federalism is the basic structure of the constitution and greater power to centre in some instances is just an exception and are not rule. Thus, in the words of Granville Austin Indian polity is a just case of “ cooperative federalism”
Topic: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.
Why this question:
The article highlights the recent study by the Azim Premji University which found that 96% of parents said education was as important for girls as it is for boys, but only 52% saw it as a means to employment for daughters, whereas for sons, it was 71%.
Key demand of the question:
The answer must assess the trends of gender revolution in education and contrast it with that in terms of Jobs and analyse what are the shortfalls being witnessed.
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 first, highlight the gender factor in education and jobs in India in brief.
Body:
Explain that educated women are a force for change. They are likely to marry later and have fewer kids. Yet, without social support structures for careers, education is in danger of becoming a goal in itself. Female labour force participation has plunged to 23.3% according to the 2018 Economic Survey. More girls are studying, but they are not necessarily landing more jobs.
Use data from the article, compare and contrast the underling factors leading to such a picture.
Conclusion:
Conclude with what needs to be done, what should be the way forward.
Topic: India and its neighborhood- relations.
Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.
Why this question:
The question seeks to examine the alarming water crisis situation in the country and significance of India’s relations on river water sharing with neighboring countries amidst it.
Key demand of the question:
Discuss the importance of India’s relations on river water sharing with neighboring countries amidst water crisis.
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:
Start by highlighting the water crisis in the world particularly in India. Mention some facts for example India is water stress country.
Body:
Discuss the relations with all the neighboring countries individually. In this you have to focus on two things, first mention disputes and second challenges. For example with China , India being a low riparian state faces floods in NE often , Dams of china in the seismically active zones threatening stability in India etc.
Conclusion:
Conclude with way forward, suggest that Need of mutual trust and cooperation is the need of an hour, mapping of flood zone areas, sharing of data with each other etc.
General Studies – 4
Topic: Human Values – lessons from the lives and teachings of great leaders, reformers and administrators; role of family, society and educational institutions in inculcating values.
Why this question:
The article named ‘Recovering Gandhi’s religious vision’ discusses in detail Mahatma Gandhi’s religious views and the idea of religious plurality.
Key demand of the question:
One has to discuss in depth the idea of religious plurality as propounded by Mahatma Gandhi.
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 explain what religious plurality is.
Body:
The answer body should have the following key points:
- Add a note on the importance of an identity. Religion in the diversified society like India and introduce Gandhi’s view on religion.
- Discuss on the various dimensions of Gandhi’s religious philosophy.
- In brief, elaborate on the present social conditions.
- Examine the relevance of the Gandhian religious philosophy in the present conditions.
Conclusion:
Conclude by reasserting significance of Gandhian philosophy of religious plurality.
NOTE:
