[Insights Secure – 2020] Daily UPSC Mains Answer Writing Practice: 21 December 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.
Reference: Class XI NCERT – Medieval India by R S Sharma
Why this question:
The question is from the static portions of GS paper I. It aims to analyse the impact of religious nature of different kingdoms and dynasties and their impact upon the art and architecture of the times.
Key demand of the question:
One must explain with suitable examples the impact of religion over the art and architecture of ancient and medieval Indian times.
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:
Start with a generic appreciation of art and architecture and its relevance in past times of ancient and Medieval India.
Body:
Explain the following viewpoints with relevant examples wherever necessary:
- With changing times, better articulation of religious and socio-cultural beliefs develops which reflect in the contemporaneous art forms. Thus, the prehistoric art forms are confined to secular paintings like that of Bhimbetka rock shelters.
- Later, the animistic religious belief of Harappa Civilisation gets reflected in the terracotta figurines of mother goddess. With the further passage of time and emergence of Brahmanism, Buddhism, Jainism etc. more religious art forms in terms of Ajanta caves and paintings, Dashavatara temple (Deogarh) etc. surfaced.
- Later, in medieval India, under the patronage of Delhi Sultans, tombs and mosques emerged.
- Nevertheless, it must also be noted that non-religious or secular art forms were also getting importance. For example, the seals, terracotta toys, granary from Harappan Civilisation and palaces, gardens from medieval India.
- Similarly, the patronage provided by the rulers or the society also defines the type of art that gets developed. The Ashokan edicts, whose form and content was largely non-religious, incorporated principles of social conduct. During the Sultanate period emerged the Indo-Islamic form of architecture like tombs and mosques.
Conclusion:
Conclude that the art and architectural forms of ancient and medieval India never confined themselves only to the making of mammoth buildings of religious places, though it contributed the most.
Topic: Population and associated Issues
Why this question:
The NITI Aayog is to draft a roadmap for achieving population stabilization in collaboration with the Population Foundation of India (PFI).
Key demand of the question:
One must bring out the importance of population stabilization for the country and the need to make it a national priority.
Directive:
Elucidate – Give 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:
Present in brief an introduction about India’s population and its growth.
Body:
Have the following dimensions covered in your answer:
- Present relevant facts and findings of the report.
- Write about the problems of having huge Population in achieving SDGs.
- Explain the India’s aspirations in achieving $ 5 trillion economy.
- Mention about the role of population in achieving the economic goals.
- Suggest measures to be taken in this regard.
Conclusion: Conclude by directing towards a futuristic way forward for the same.
General Studies – 2
Topic: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests. Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests, Indian diaspora.
Why this question:
Recently India and Australia moved closer to closing in on the Logistics Support Agreement (LSA), as the Foreign and Defence Secretaries from both countries met in New Delhi.
Key demand of the question:
One must bring out the bilateral aspects of India and Australia with special focus on the recently agreed Logistics Support Agreement (LSA).
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:
In brief narrate the key takeaways of Logistics Support Agreement (LSA).
Body:
The LSA is one of key agenda points between India and Australia as it will allow the two countries to use each other’s military bases for logistical support which includes food, water, and petroleum.
Discuss the bilateral aspects between the two countries.
What are the common concerns of the two? – India and Australia share a common concern that is China and its growing influence. While Australia is worried about the Chinese activities in the Pacific Ocean, India has concerns over its increasing activities and influence in the Indian Ocean.
Discuss the trust factor between the two countries.
Explain other key aspects that need focus.
Conclusion:
Conclude with way forward.
Topic: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests. Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests, Indian diaspora.
Why this question:
The question is amidst the recent International Criminal Court’s probe into the alleged war crimes in Palestinian territories.
Key demand of the question:
One must analyse the relevance of Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court and the concerns that India has with its functioning.
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 Rome Statute is.
Body:
The ICC began functioning on 1 July 2002, the date that the Rome Statute entered into force. The Rome Statute is a multilateral treaty that serves as the ICC’s foundational and governing document.
The states parties to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court are those sovereign states that have ratified or have otherwise become a party to, the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.
The ICC can prosecute only those individuals for war crimes who are nationals of states parties or who have committed the alleged crime in the territory of states parties.
Explain India’s stand with respect to it – The government of India has consistently opposed the Court. It abstained in the vote adopting the statute in 1998, saying it objected to the broad definition adopted of crimes against humanity; the rights given to the UN Security Council to refer and delay investigations and bind non-states parties; and the use of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction not being explicitly criminalized.
Conclusion:
Conclude with what should be the way forward and suggest solutions to the issue.
General Studies – 3
Topic: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.
Why this question:
Almost halfway through the climate conference in Madrid, one big thing it had to resolve was the disagreements over setting up a new carbon market that has remained contentious as ever. Thus the question aims to analyse the concept of carbon market in such pretext.
Key demand of the question:
One must provide for a detailed analysis of carbon markets and examine the mechanism in detail along with the associated pros and cons.
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 first, explain the context of the question.
Body:
Carbon markets, which allow for buying and selling of carbon emissions with the objective of reducing global emissions, is an unfinished agenda from last year’s meeting in Katowice, Poland.
Under the Paris Agreement, every country has to take action to fight climate change. These actions need not necessarily be in the form of reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, which can constrain economic growth.
Explain then – what the points of contention are; the main tussle is over two or three broad issues — what happens to carbon credits earned in the Kyoto regime but not yet sold, what constitutes double-counting, and transparency mechanisms to be put in place.
Discuss the major points of disagreements.
Suggest way forward.
Conclusion:
Conclude that Carbon markets are not compulsorily essential to the implementation of Paris Agreement. But with the world doing far less than what is required to prevent catastrophic impacts of climate change; the markets can be an important tool to close the action gap
Topic: Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics, nano-technology, bio-technology and issues relating to intellectual property rights.
Why this question:
The government on Tuesday announced a new ‘mission’ aimed at providing broadband access in all villages in the country by 2022, entailing investments of around ₹7 lakh crore from various stakeholders.
Key demand of the question:
One must discuss the concept of digital divide; bring out the issues involved in the Indian scenario and suggest way forward.
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:
Define what digital divide is; A digital divide is an economic and social inequality with regard to access to, use of, or impact of information and communication technologies (ICT).
Body:
Start with the significance of penetration of information and communications technology (ICT).
Discuss the impact of it on the society.
Explain that Government of India has been pursuing e-governance initiatives to bring in transparency accountability, speed in delivery of public services. Digital divide has been the major hindrance in path of these e-governance initiatives.
Provide for suggestions.
Conclusion:
Conclude with way forward.
Topic: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment.
Why this question:
Last week, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman refused to comment on queries on stagflation. But with fast decelerating economic growth and sharply rising inflation, there is a growing murmur about India facing stagflation.
Key demand of the question:
One has to analyse the context of Stagflation currently witnessing the Indian economy.
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 first define what stagflation is – Stagflation is a portmanteau of stagnant growth and rising inflation. Typically, inflation rises when the economy is growing fast.
Body:
Explain the concept of stagflation in detail.
Discuss the past experiences of stagflation in the Indian economy; The most famous case of stagflation happened in the early and mid-1970s when OPEC (The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries), which works like a cartel, decided to cut supply and sent oil prices soaring across the world. On the one hand, the rise in oil prices constrained the productive capacity of most western economies that heavily depended on oil, thus hampering economic growth.
Discuss what needs to be done.
Conclusion: Conclude with way forward.
