[Insights Secure – 2020] Daily UPSC Mains Answer Writing Practice: 04 February 2020
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INSIGHTS NEW SECURE – 2020: YEARLONG TIMETABLE
General Studies – 1
Topic: population and associated issues, poverty and developmental issues, urbanization, their problems and their remedies.
Reference: Business Today
Why this question:
The question is in the backdrop of the recent initiatives laid out by the Budget to enhance manpower, productivity and employability of the demography in the country.
Key demand of the question:
The answer must discuss the challenges associated with Demographic Dividend in India and brief upon the steps taken by the government to address these challenges.
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 demographic dividend.
Body:
Explain the fact that India’s demographic dividend could turn out to be a liability if the population is not properly educated, skilled and made employable. A well-educated and healthy population would allow India to read the benefits of its economy. Discuss the challenges it is facing. List out the measures, policies and initiatives that are being taken by the government.
Conclusion:
Conclude with need to recognise the aspects of DD and necessity of harnessing it for a better India in coming future.
General Studies – 2
Topic: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. Food Processing and Related Industries in India- Scope’ and Significance, Location, Upstream and Downstream Requirements, Supply Chain Management.
Reference: Live Mint
Why this question:
The upcoming national logistics policy is expected to streamline rules and address supply-side constraints, leading to lower logistics costs and greater competitiveness for Indian products worldwide. Thus the question.
Key demand of the question:
The answer must discuss the key highlights of the draft National logistic policy and bring out the benefits and the challenges in detail.
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:
Briefly explain that India’s logistics sector has remained fragmented and unregulated, despite its centrality to economic growth.
Body:
- According to a logistics policy draft released by the commerce ministry in February 2019, the government will create a single point of reference for all logistics and trade facilitation matters, reducing logistics costs, which are now estimated at 13-14% of GDP, to 10%.
- Discuss the key features of the draft policy.
- Highlight the concerns/issues involved.
- Suggest the benefits that can be accrued from it.
Conclusion:
Conclude by reasserting the significance of such a policy in addressing the gaps in the logistics sector of the country.
Topic: Indian Constitution– historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure.
Reference: The Hindu
Why this question:
The report of the 15th Finance Commission headed by N K Singh was tabled in Parliament. Thus the context of the question.
Key demand of the question:
The question is straightforward and aims to note upon Finance commission and the recently released interim report.
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.
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:
Briefly explain the constitutional provisions of FC.
Body:
Start by explaining the working and purpose of the FC; The Finance Commission is a body set up under Article 280 of the Constitution, primarily to recommend measures and methods on how revenues, which the government earns through various taxes, need to be distributed between the Centre and the states. Discuss the related provisions of it in detail.Bring out the highlights of Interim Report of 15th FC.
Conclusion:
Conclude by relevance of the released interim report of the 15th Finance Commission.
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: IDSA
Why this question:
The question is from the static portions of the GS paper III.
Key demand of the question:
The answer must discuss the relevance of Communication networks as a part of our critical information infrastructure; explain the threats posed by them.
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 what constitute communication networks.
Body:
- Discuss how securing the networks are complicated by a number of factors.
- Explain in what way threats are posed by communication networks to the internal security of India.
- Highlight the efforts being made by the country to address these concerns.
- Suggest solutions to address the challenges.
Conclusion:
Conclude by 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.
Reference: Legal Service India
Why this question:
The question is from the static portions of the GS paper III.
Key demand of the question:
The question aims to evaluate in detail about money laundering- definition, purpose, means etc. It also wants us to discuss the available policies such as PMLA to tackle the same.
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 Money Laundering is.
Body:
Write a few lines about the meaning of money laundering- e.g Money laundering is the process of creating the appearance that large amounts of money obtained from criminal activity, such as drug trafficking or terrorist activity, originated from a legitimate source. The money from the illicit activity is considered dirty, and the process “launders” the money to make it look clean.
Discuss the steps in money laundering- Placement-criminally derived funds are introduced in the financial system; Layering-the property is ‘washed’ and its ownership and source is disguised; Integration-‘laundered’ property is re-introduced into the legitimate economy; This three staged definition of money laundering is highly simplistic. The reality is that the so-called stages often overlap and, in some cases, for example in cases of financial crimes, there is no requirement for the proceeds of crime to be ‘placed’. Briefly explain how globalization impacts money laundering. Examine the recent policy efforts taken by the government – India is a full-fledged member of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), PMLA 2002, and Financial intelligence unit -IND etc.
Conclusion:
Conclude with way forward.
Topic: Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes; mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections. Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment.
Reference: The Hindu
Why this question:
Recently, As a part of a radical ‘privatization project’, the Health Ministry and the NITI Aayog have developed a framework to let private hospitals run select services within district hospitals, on a 30-year lease. Thus the context of the question.
Key demand of the question:
The answer must discuss the aspects of privatization of health and education sectors in India and in what way it can bring transformational shift in the current social indicators of the country.
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:
Briefly explain the recent ideas proposed to privatize Health and education sectors in India.
Body:
Give a brief introduction about the status of health and education of Indians. Highlight the reasons for such a situation. If you think privatization is needed in these sectors to make transformational changes then argue supporting point’s otherwise present points opposing the move. Suggest suitable measures to be taken in this regard.
Conclusion:
Conclude with a futuristic way ahead.
Topic: Issues related to direct and indirect farm subsidies and minimum support prices; Public Distribution System- objectives, functioning, limitations, revamping; issues of buffer stocks and food security; Technology missions; economics of animal-rearing.
Reference: The Hindu
Why this question:
As the debate surrounding the review of open-ended procurement policy has started gaining momentum, following a recommendation by the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Price (CACP) to the Centre government, several farmers and farmers’ bodies in Punjab and Haryana have hinted that any move To stop or limit it would be opposed and resisted.
Key demand of the question:
The answer must discuss in detail the concept of open ended procurement policy and the concerns associated with it, also explain how the government decides upon the MSP.
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.
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 open ended procurement policy is.
Body:
- Under open-ended procurement policy, government agencies buy whatever quantity of wheat and rice is brought by farmers into the mandis (wholesale markets), within the stipulated time and which conforms to fixed quality Parameters for Central pool.
- Then move onto explain the procedure of forming MSP; CACP submits its recommendations to the government in the form of Price Policy Reports every year, separately for five groups of commodities namely Kharif crops, Rabi crops, Sugarcane, Raw Jute and Copra.
- Discuss the detailed procedure.
- Explain the challenges involved and suggest solutions to it.
Conclusion:
Conclude with the need to have a balanced approach.
