[Insights Secure – 2020] Daily UPSC Mains Answer Writing Practice: 03 February 2020
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INSIGHTS NEW SECURE – 2020: YEARLONG TIMETABLE
General Studies – 1
Topic: geographical features and their location- changes in critical geographical features (including water bodies and ice-caps) and in flora and fauna and the effects of such changes. Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.
Reference: Hindustan Times
Why this question:
2nd Feb is World Wetlands Day, which marks the date of the adoption of the Convention on Wetlands on February 2, 1971, in the Iranian city of Ramsar on the shores of the Caspian Sea. The 2020 theme Wetlands and Biodiversity is an opportunity to highlight wetland biodiversity, its status, why it matters and to promote actions to reverse its loss. Thus the question.
Key demand of the question:
The answer must discuss why India has witnessed a rapid degradation of its wetlands in recent times, what the causative factors are and what needs to be done to address the same.
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:
Briefly explain what Wetlands are.
Body:
- First explain why it is important to save wetlands? What kinds of challenges do they face in India?
- Discuss the causative factors such as – urbanization, agriculture expansion and pollution etc.
- Explain the link between health of Wetlands and the water, food and climate factor.
- Discuss methods and means of saving the Wetland ecosystem and essence of it.
- Highlight the efforts being made in this direction by the Government of India.
Conclusion:
Conclude by reasserting the significance of wetland ecosystems.
General Studies – 2
Topic: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests, Indian diaspora.
Reference: The Hindu
Why this question:
The West Asia peace plan has been unveiled recently by U.S. President Donald Trump. Thus the question.
Key demand of the question:
The answer must discuss the relevance of the plan in addressing the Israel-Palestine crisis and the possible way ahead of it.
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:
Briefly explain what the plan is.
Body:
- The Peace plan seeks to give the Israelis what they have long wanted — an expansive state with Jerusalem as its undivided capital and tight security control over a future Palestinian state.
- With his plan, Mr. Trump is actually pushing to revive the stalled two-state talks between the Israelis and the Palestinians, but on his own terms.
- The Trump plan seeks to address most of the contentious issues in the conflict such as the border of Israel, the status of Palestinian refugees, Jewish settlements on the West Bank, Israel’s security concerns and the status of the city of Jerusalem.
- However, the solutions Mr. Trump has proposed to almost all of these issues favour the Israeli positions (Explain the areas in detail)
Conclusion:
Conclude with your opinion as to whether the plan will work or more needs to be done in this direction.
Topic: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.
Reference: News On AIR
Why this question:
The government in its budget 2020 has announced a National Mission on Quantum Technologies & Applications (NM-QTA) with a total budget outlay of Rs 8000 Crore for a period of five years to be implemented by the Department of Science & Technology (DST).
Key demand of the question:
The answer must discuss in detail the key features of such a mission and its ultimate goal and contributions to Science and technology of 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:
First explain what you understand by Quantum Technology.
Body:
Quantum Technology is based on the principles of quantum theory, which explains the nature of energy and matter on the atomic and subatomic level.
Quantum computers store and process information using quantum two level systems (quantum bits or qubits) which unlike classical bits can be prepared in superposition states.
Discuss the key features of the scheme. Explain that the implementation of the mission would help develop and bring quantum computers, secured communications through fibre and free space, quantum encryption and crypt-analysis and associated technologies within reach in the country.
Conclusion:
Conclude by reasserting the significance of such a move.
General Studies – 3
Topic: Challenges to internal security through communication networks, role of media and social networking sites in internal security challenges, basics of cyber security; money-laundering and its prevention.
Reference: DSCI
Why this question:
The question is straightforward and is from the static portions of the GS paper III.
Key demand of the question:
The answer must discuss the various components of Cyber Security; explain the mechanisms available at the International level to address it.
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:
Briefly explain what you understand by Cyber security.
Body:
Highlight the fact that, with recent reports – one of the highest numbers of cyber threats have been detected in India and the country ranks second in terms of targeted attacks. Although Banking and Telecom are the most attacked sectors but Manufacturing, Healthcare, and Retail have also faced a significant number of cyber-attacks.
Discus the various components of Cybersecurity – Application Security, information security, Network Security, Disaster recovery planning etc.
Then move onto explain the mechanisms available to address the threats of cybercrimes at the international level and in the country.
Conclusion:
Conclude with a way forward.
Topic: Challenges to internal security through communication networks, role of media and social networking sites in internal security challenges, basics of cyber security; money-laundering and its prevention.
5. Examine the role of cybersecurity in securing digital India. (250 words)
Reference: Analytics Training
Why this question:
The question is direct and aims to examine the aspects of cybersecurity and its key role in securing digital India.
Key demand of the question:
The answer must discuss the role of cybersecurity in securing digital India.
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:
Explain the fact that in the twentieth century, India saw an impetus in Information Technology (IT) and an enormous growth in e-commerce. Both these sectors ride on and reside in cyberspace involving electronic transactions, software, services, devices and networks which are highly susceptible to cyber-crimes. Hence to ensure its safety, cyber-security has become one of the most compelling priorities for the country.
Body:
Define cybersecurity, explain the key aspects briefly.
Discuss the need for cybersecurity and provide for detailed analysis.
Highlight the challenges involved in ensuring cybersecurity.
Explain the efforts being made by government of India in this direction.
Conclusion:
Suggest way forward and conclude that For the success of government initiatives like Digital India, Make in India and Smart Cities cybersecurity is quintessential in any government policy.
Topic: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment.
Reference: The Hindu
Why this question:
The article deals with important highlights of the Union Budget 2020-2021.
Key demand of the question:
The answer must discuss the significance of the recent budget proposals with respect to the power and the renewable energy sector.
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:
Briefly explain the key initiatives laid out in the budget with respect to the power sector and the renewable energy sector.
Body:
The Union Budget has allocated ₹22,000 crores to the power and renewable energy sector in 2020-21, aiming to improve the financial health of power distribution firms.
The proposals for prepaid smart metering and freedom to choose power suppliers will lay the ground to bring competition in the sector and give consumers a choice. This will increase the efficiency of the whole system.
The Budget provisions have given impetus to clean energy and power.
Discuss the provisions in detail.
Conclusion:
Conclude by reasserting the significance of such proposals to the power sector.
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.
Reference: Ethics by Lexicon Publications
Why this question:
The question is based on the theme of social as well as distributive justice.
Key demand of the question:
The answer must compare and contrast the two variants of justice viz. social justice and the distributive justice. One must argue in what way Distributive justice can prove to be a better philosophy to bring social justice with suitable illustrations.
Directive:
Compare and contrast – provide for a detailed comparison of the two types, their features that are similar as well as different. One must provide for detailed assessment of the two.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Highlight the significance of Justice in general.
Body:
- Give the definition of distributive justice and different types of distributive norms.
- Give the definition of social justice.
- Explain how distributive justice can support social justice.
- Explain how distributive justice and social justice are in opposition.
- Quote examples to justify your stand.
Conclusion:
Conclude that a balanced approach is required to create harmony between social justice and distributive justice.
