[Insights Secure – 2020] Daily UPSC Mains Answer Writing Practice: 18 October 2019
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General Studies – 1
Topic: Salient features of Indian Society, Diversity of India.
Why this question:
The question is based on the theme of urbanization and its impact on socio-economic growth.
Key demand of the question:
The answer must discuss in detail the effect of urbanization as an agent of socio-economic growth.
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:
Quote – Urbanization in India increased from 28.53% in 2001 census, to 31.16% as per 2011 census. In 2017, the numbers increased to 34%, according to The World Bank.
Body:
Discuss the following aspects:
- Discuss why urbanization is considered as an agent of growth. Like increase in employment opportunities, poverty reduction, women empowerment, access to better basic amenities, modernization, etc.
- In next part, discuss in Indian context benefit of urbanization on socio economic growth. For eg. Poverty reduction, etc.
- Discuss the challenges Indian urbanization is facing and that it has not led to the intended benefits. Can mention World banks report on urbanization. For eg. Messy and hidden urbanization( Messy urbanization is reflected in the almost 65.5 million Indians who, according to the country’s 2011 Census, live in urban slums, as well as the 13.7 percent of the urban population that lived below the national poverty line in 2011), unplanned and haphazard urbanization leading to problems like water shortage, environmental problems, hazards(eg. Chennai floods), concretization, heat island effect, poor policy for migrants, etc.
Conclusion:
Conclude by mentioning the steps taken by the government to deal with the same. Or conclude by mentioning strategies that should be put in place to leverage the benefit of urbanization and deal with the challenges.
Topic:Salient features of Indian Society, Diversity of India.
Why this question:
The question seeks to study the impact of development process on the tribal communities in India.
Key demand of the question:
One has to critically present in what way tribal communities have been on the rear end of receiving benefits of the development stratergy.
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 introduction by giving some data justifying the statement. Like, overall poverty in India is 21.9%, whereas for tribal population it stands at 46%.
You may even start by briefly describing the distribution of tribal population in India, supported by data.
Body:
- Start by explaining how development has had negative impact on tribals overall socio economic development. For eg. Forced migration, loss of livelihood, displacement, acculturation issues, etc.
- Refer report by Virginius Xaxa committee.
- Add case study and maps to support your discussions above. For eg. Niyamgiri hills-Vedanta group case, Sardar sarovar dam case, Can also add datas on development indicators like MMR,IMR ,Literacy rate ,etc .of the tribal populations on mineral rich regions.
- Have a discussion on the positive impacts of development on tribal population. For eg. Under khanij kshetra kalyan yojana 60% funds of District mineral funds will be spend on areas like health, sanitation etc.
- In way forward show the different measures and recent schemes by Govt. for tribal development such as FRA, PESA, Tribal sub plan approach, Van bandhu scheme, Eklavya scheme,etc.
Conclusion:
Conclude with way ahead.
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:
Recently India slipped to the 102nd spot in the Global Hunger Index which features 117 countries. Thus important to evaluate the findings from the exam perspective for GS paper II.
Key demand of the question:
One has to brief upon the findings of GHI and India’s position in it and evaluate the factors responsible for such a situation and what needs to be done.
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 quote the findings of the report.
Body:
Explain first significance of GHI in short.
Then move on to list down the findings of the report and the reasons of India have deteriorated position in the ranking.
India is ranked 102 of 117 countries in the Global Hunger Index 2019, behind its neighbors Sri Lanka, Nepal, Pakistan and Bangladesh.
Explain What are the reasons for which India’s improvements have been slow?
Conclusion:
Conclude with way forward.
Topic: Functions and responsibilities of the Union and the States, issues and challenges pertaining to the federal structure, devolution of powers and finances up to local levels and challenges therein.
Why this question:
The article covers a detailed narration of the citizenry behaviour as to how they have more faith often in unelected institutions than elected representatives.
Key demand of the question:
One has to explain the irony in the question statement with suitable illustrations and explain what needs to be done to restore such faith in the elected representatives.
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:
State that Surveys have shown that faith in the armed forces and institutions such as the Election Commission often surpasses the faith citizens have in the legislature or the executive.
Body:
Such a question can be best explained through suitable examples like – Judiciary; explain that our founders carefully constructed a system of checks and balances, and separation of powers. Aware of the dangers of populism, and of the temptation of the political leadership to bypass the law, India’s constitution designed a judiciary meant to be truly independent. The institution, to its credit, has lived up to this faith. Even at the most difficult of times, such as the Emergency, during which the role of the Supreme Court (SC) has been legitimately questioned as having aided the subversion of fundamental rights, it is instructive to remember that at least some within the institution sought to uphold the law.
Another example could be of CBI.
Conclusion:
Conclude by suggesting solutions as to what needs to be done.
Topic:Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests, Indian diaspora.
Why this question:
The article explains that in a setting where there was a chariot of peace, joint co-operation, multilateralism and liberalism whose strings were controlled by institutions such as the United Nations, the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the International Court of Justice has now become one of warhorses pulling in different directions to embrace unilateralism, protectionism and isolationism.
Key demand of the question:
The answer should detail upon the changing geopolitics of the world and India’s foreign policy approach with recent examples.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Start by stating that the global order is now dipping into a vortex of disruptions largely caused by the United States, China and Brexit.
Body:
Discuss first the current issues of geopolitics.
Explain the aspects of – table policy of non-alignment and strategic autonomy; the idea to join the bandwagon of unilateralism and be a permanent treaty ally of one of the superpowers, and, finally, embark upon a calculated trip with the objective of expansion in terms of forging new relations and exploring fresh territories by adopting a strategy of “multi-alignment and transactional autonomy”.
Discuss what opportunities India has ahead.
Conclusion:
Conclude that despite these contradictions and challenges, a number of opportunities in the new world order await India.
General Studies – 3
TOPIC: Food processing and related industries in India- scope and significance, location, upstream and downstream requirements, supply chain management.
Why this question:
Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying have released the 20th Livestock Census report. The release contains some key results reflecting the aggregate counts of various species as well as its comparison with previous census.
Key demand of the question:
Explain in detail the findings of the report and evaluate the efforts of centre in this direction, present your opinion as to how far the government has been successful in achieving its defined targets.
Directive:
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.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
In short highlight the importance of such a census.
Body:
The Livestock Census has been conducted in the country periodically since 1919-20.
Then discuss the findings of the report. Thereafter explain the efforts of Centre to increase indigenous breeds of cattle that seem to have had little impact among cows kept for dairy purposes. There are 4.85 crore desi (native) milch cows in the country, less than 1% increase than in the last census in 2012.
Discuss Rashtriya Gokul Mission; its objectives.
Conclusion:
Conclude with what needs to be done.
General Studies – 4
Topic: case study
case study
Why this question:
The question is a case study and tends to evaluate opinion on the point of moral question.
Key demand of the question:
One has to present their opinion on the question with suitable justifications.
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 judgment.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
In brief narrate the case study.
Body:
Discuss the context of the case study first.
Present points, may be taking both the sides; one – the act as an immoral one and the other as a moral one.
Discuss in what way it is unjust to kill animals to fulfill our needs or just to kill animals.
Present your opinion with a balanced approach.
Conclusion:
Conclude with some philosophy by thinkers justifying your stand.
NOTE:
