[Insights Secure – 2020] Daily UPSC Mains Answer Writing Practice: 05 February 2020
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INSIGHTS NEW SECURE – 2020: YEARLONG TIMETABLE
General Studies – 2
Topic: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests
Reference: Indian Express
Why this question:
More than half a century ago, when analysts talked about war in the Middle East, they referred to a single overarching and permanent tension which existed between Israel and Arab countries like Egypt, Syria, Saudi Arabia and Iraq.
Today, in the new Middle East — and despite the unsolved tension between Israelis and Palestinians — the defining war is a broader struggle among multiple players seeking regional hegemony. Thus the question.
Key demand of the question:
The answer must discuss the changed scenario in the west Asia and in what way it is today at rife with small state, non-state actors pitted against each other.
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 the implied meaning of New West Asia.
Body:
- Explain in detail how there are there are fractious groups of militias, religious groups and tribal forces that exercise power in much of the region.
- These groups have grown vastly in the past 20 years, and many of them have been and continue to be financed and controlled by Iran and Saudi Arabia
- As a result, contemporary West Asia has been shifting constantly between state actors (Iran, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Iraq and Israel) and non-state actors (the militia groups and local forces) that actually controlled much of the land.
- At times, non-state actors like the Hezbollah of Lebanon have been more influential than the national governments.
- Take hints from the article and present your viewpoints.
Conclusion:
Conclude that understanding the geopolitics of the new Middle East is the key to the entire situation.
Topic: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.
Reference: PIB
Why this question:
Recently the economic survey 2020-21 was released ahead of Budget proposals issued in the parliament.
Key demand of the question:
The answer must discuss the significant suggestions made by the Economic Survey 2020 to boost India’s 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:
Briefly explain that the Economic Survey suggested that the government must use its strong mandate to deliver expeditiously on reforms which will enable the economy to strongly rebound in 2020-21.
Body:
Highlight that The survey said the economy is set to revive in the second half of 2019- 20 mainly on account of ten positive factors. Discuss the suggestions given in the survey in detail. There isn’t much to deliberate; students must list down the suggestions that are key to economic growth of the country.
Conclusion:
Conclude that the survey projected FY21 growth of 6-6.5% may prove to be optimistic unless backed by a strong fiscal stimulus in the budget and the meeting of investment targets specified in the National Infrastructure Pipeline, both by The central and state governments.
Topic: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment.
Reference: Indian Express
Why this question:
The 2020 Budget was presented against the background of slowing economy, poor investment climate, declining consumption demand and stagnant exports. Thus the question aims to analyse if the Budget proposed is promising on these fronts or not.
Key demand of the question:
The answer must discuss critically the Budget proposals and in what way they lack promises in terms triggering demand in the 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:
Briefly explain the current case of the Budget proposals.
Body:
- The 2020 Budget was presented against the background of slowing economy, poor investment climate, declining consumption demand and stagnant exports.
- The steady deceleration in growth, which registered at 4.5 per cent in the second quarter of the current fiscal — the lowest in the last 26 quarters — presented a challenge as well as an opportunity.
- Monetary policy, by reducing the repo rate by 135 basis points since January last year, has traversed quite a distance.
Discuss what the expectations were from the budget and why the budget somewhere failed to touch upon those points.
Conclusion:
Conclude that it seems the wait for a rescue of the slowing economy has become longer, however proposals and policies need to be steered in the right direction to bring the economy back on wheels.
Topic: Parliament and State Legislatures – structure, functioning, conduct of business, powers & privileges and issues arising out of these.
Reference: The Hindu
Why this question:
The article discusses that as of January 28, the Chief Ministers of at least 11 States have expressed their unwillingness to implement the National Register of Citizens (NRC).Thus the question ponders to evaluate the relationship between centre and States and the federal character of the Indian polity.
Key demand of the question:
The answer must discuss the significance of evolving new measures to foster cooperation between Union and state government on crucial constitutional issues.
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:
Give a brief introduction about the recent events that affected the state’s will in Implementing Union laws.
Body:
- Discuss about the relevant constitutional provisions in this regard.
- State the pros and cons of implementing parliament laws by states uniformly.
- Suggest a suitable way forward.
Conclusion:
Conclude that new measures should be evolved to foster cooperation between Union and state government on crucial constitutional issues.
General Studies – 3
Topic: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment.
Reference: Indian Express
Why this question:
India’s largest power generator NTPC Ltd has raised a $750 million-worth term loan in Japanese yen, claiming it to be the “largest ever” Samurai loan raised by any Asian corporate. Thus the question.
Key demand of the question:
The answer must discuss the concept of Samurai loans and their significance.
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 Samurai Loans are – Samurai loans allow non-Japanese firms to tap into the investment capital available in Japan and borrow funds in yen, which is among the currencies with the lowest interest rates.
Body:
Discuss in detail the concept – The cross border syndicated loan provides the borrower with capital to
either enter the Japanese market or the ability to convert the proceeds into
The firm’s local currency for use in existing operations.
- The loan was raised under the automatic route of RBI’s External Commercial Borrowing regulations and has been fully underwritten by the State Bank of India in Tokyo, Sumimoto Mitsui Banking Corporation in Singapore and Bank of India, Tokyo.
- The facility has a door-to-door maturity of 11 years — the period within which the amount would have to be paid back — under two tranches.
Conclusion:
Conclude by reasserting the significance of such tools.
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: The Hindu
Why this question:
Earlier this week, The Guardian published a report on the alleged hacking of the personal phone of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos (in 2018). Thus the context of the question.
Key demand of the question:
The answer must examine as to why modern computing devices are not safe when it comes to the issue of security vulnerabilities in technology use.
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 background of the question.
Body:
First explain the Multiple security vulnerabilities that are being witnessed across the world in recent times.
Quote the example of recent Pegasus incident.
Discuss the techniques by which security is at threat and made vulnerable.
Suggest what needs to be done to address these issues and alarming concerns.
Conclusion:
Conclude by suggesting solutions.
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 aims to analyse different internal security threats arising from social media and social networking sites.
Key demand of the question:
The answer must discuss the role of media and social networking sites in internal security challenges 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:
Briefly define what constitutes social media.
Body:
First highlight the fact that Media is considered as influential channel for effective communication. It supports in promoting the right things on proper time. It provides a real exposure to the mass viewers about right or wrong process.
Then move onto discuss the challenges that it poses.
Discuss Social media as a threat to national security; explain how it aids propogate fundamentalism, fake news etc.
Suggest how government should tackle these issues.
Conclusion:
Conclude with way forward, suggesting suitable solutions.
