February
Insights into Editorial: Drug pricing: a bitter pill to swallow 27 February 2016 Article Link The government, in November 2015, formed an inter-ministerial committee to review the Drug Price Control Order (DPCO) 2013, following the Supreme Court verdict that termed the drug pricing policy as irrational and unreasonable. Why government’s intervention in health sector is […]
Insights Daily Current Events, 27 February 2016 Archives Topic: Indian economy – growth and development Economic Survey Highlights Invest in welfare, undertake reforms, says Economic Survey Economic survey projects real GDP growth for the current financial year and 2016-17 to be in the range of 7-7.75%. According to CSO, growth this year will be 7.6%, […]
[Insights Secure – 2016] UPSC Mains Questions on Current Events: 27 February 2016 Archives – Secure 2015 Archives – Secure 2016 Click on EACH question to post/read answers. General Studies – 1; Topic: Salient features of Indian society; Social empowerment 1) Castes which have traditionally been seen as economically powerful are now resorting to making desperate […]
Topic:Ethical concerns and dilemmas in government and private institutions 9) “Public health research is largely conducted on the poor and marginalised who are more susceptible to illness and disease and face greater barriers in access to healthcare. This poses a number of ethical challenges in research.” What are these ethical challenges? How should these challenges […]
Topic: Resource mobilization 8) To widen the tax net and raise revenue for spending on India’s human capital development, the recent Economic Survey calls for bringing rich farmers into the tax net, raising property tax rates and phasing out tax exemptions. Do you think this is a prudent suggestion? Critically analyse. (200 Words) The Hindu
Topic: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests 7) Discuss why The South Commission (1987-90) was set up, and what were its mandate and recommendations. The Human Development Report (HDR), 2013 titled “The Rise of the South” has recommended setting up a new South Commission. Examine why. (250 Words) EPW
Topic: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Education, 6) “The no-detention provision (NDP) and continuous and comprehensive evaluation (CCE) in the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RtE) Act 2009 have become arguably the act’s most controversial clauses.” Examine why. (200 Words) EPW
Topic: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Education, 5) It is said that the government’s Choice Based Credit System is also designed to foster privatisation of education. Critically examine the merits and demerits of making higher education a profit-oriented and tradable commodity. (200 Words) EPW
Topic:Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. 4) The union government plans to set up a National Media Analytics Centre (NMAC) to to monitor and analyse blogs, web portals of television channels and newspapers, as well as social media. Critically comment on this move. (200 Words) […]
Topic: Political philosophies; Freedom struggle 3) “…the concept of “nationalism” that developed in countries like India during their anti-colonial struggle was of an altogether different kind when compared to Europe’s version of nationalism.” Examine what were the features of India’s nationalism during freedom struggle. Are Indians embracing nineteenth and early twentieth century European version of […]
Topic: World history 2) “European “nationalism” in short was an aggrandising nationalism.” Discuss. (200 Words) The Hindu
Topic: Salient features of Indian society; Social empowerment 1) Castes which have traditionally been seen as economically powerful are now resorting to making desperate demands for reservation and doing so in a violent manner. Why do you think so? What would be its impact on Indian society? Critically examine. (200 Words) EPW
Insights Daily Debates: Day – 152 26 February 2016 Archives Today’s Topic “Is Britain’s Exit Good for the European Union?” NOTE: Unlike past we will not be giving you topic in question format. We observed that it turned out to be another Q & A session. We will just mention the topic and you may […]
Insights Current Affairs Quiz (2016) – 55 26 February 2016 Archives The following quiz will have 5-10 MCQs . The questions are mainly framed from The Hindu and PIB news articles. This quiz is intended to introduce you to concepts and certain important facts relevant to UPSC IAS civil services preliminary exam 2016. It is not a […]
Economic Survey -Volume I Economic Outlook, Prospects, and Policy Challenges The Chakravyuha Challenge of the Indian Economy Spreading Jam across India’s Economy Agriculture: More from Less Mother and Child Bounties for the Well-Off Fiscal Capacity for the 21st Century Preferential Trade Agreements The Fertiliser Sector Structural Changes in India’s Labour Markets Powering “One India” Economic […]
India’s World – Militarizing the South China Sea Summary: There are reports that China has placed surface to air missile batteries in the Woody Island, a link in the chain of Paracel Islands in the South China Sea. Woody Island has been claimed by China, Taiwan and Vietnam. However, the island is under the control […]
The Big Picture – Reservation demands: What’s the solution? Summary: The issue of reservation has once again come to the fore. The Jats in Haryana have taken it to the streets demanding that they be included in the OBC list. This demand was considered by then Haryana state government in 2014 and the centre too […]
Insights into Editorial: Quantifying the caste quotas 26 February 2016 Article Link We have, in the past, observed that our political system wakes up only when the demand for reservation by a particular community turns into a violent protest. Even then, the government just confines itself to ascertaining demands of only that particular group. The […]
Insights Daily Current Events, 26 February 2016 Archives Paper 2 Topic: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. Bhopal Gas tragedy Survivors of Bhopal Gas disaster have launched a postcard campaign seeking an urgent Supreme Court hearing in the case demanding additional compensation. […]
Test – 13: Mains Self Study – 2016 (Mission – 2016) Archives TIMETABLE 26 February 2015 Click on the below questions and answer each within the word limit specified before each question. 1) The European imperialist push into Africa was motivated by three main factors, economic, political, and social. Examine these factors. (200 Words) Colonization Reference […]