[Insights Secure – 2018] Daily UPSC Mains Answer Writing Practice: 06 March 2018
Click on EACH question to post/upload you answers.
How to Follow Secure Initiative?
How to Self-evaluate your answer?
LIST of TOPICS (Static)
General Studies – 1
Topic: Social empowerment; Role of women
Why this question?
It’s an important issue and is directly related to GS-1 topics.
Key demand of the question:
You should critically analyse economic and social burdens faced by Dalit women in India and measures needed to empower the. Please read the article and extract important arguments and stats.
Directive Word:
Critically Analyse– There are TWO mains parts. Divide them further into sub-parts and examine. Wherever needed, comment also.
Structure of Answer:
In the introduction, highlight how status of dalit women is worst among all sections of population in India. Also write a line about challenges in empowering them and need to overcome these challenges.
In the body, in TWO main Parts address demand of the question: First part to write economic and social problems (again divide economic and social into sub-parts). In the second part, write solutions, but also write challenges briefly (you can write solutions only if challenges are known. Writing challenges part constitutes ANALYSIS)
In the conclusion, write if not empowered, how they can be exploited further and also how India loses 130 million plus workforce too. You may write any other thoughtful conclusion.
General Studies – 2
Topic: India and its neighborhood- relations.
Why this question?
Yesterday there was a question on SAARC and BIMSTEC. Today’s question is about CPEC and how it can help in better India-Pakistan-China relations. Important for Mains.
Key demand of the question:
Analyse how India and Pakistan use China’s influence to better relations between them.
Directive Word:
Analyse: Divide answer into many parts and analyse. Comment wherever necessary.
Structure of Answer:
In the introduction write 2-3 lines on necessity for establishing peace in South Asia and improving relations among Pakistan, India and China in the interest of their populations.
In the body, divide answer 3-4 main parts. In this answer, within these main parts (Connectivity – CPEC, Geopolitics etc), based on article, argue why China can be a solution.
In the conclusion, comment why in the long-term better relations would be mutually beneficial. You may also write about need for foresightedness in Indian diplomacy.
Tip: Relevant facts are backbone of any answer. Include them appropriately to fetch more marks.
Topic: Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies; Development processes and the development industry- the role of NGOs, SHGs, various groups and associations, donors, charities, institutional and other stakeholders
Why this question?
Role of regulators is in news. There will be a question on regulators almost every year. This questions tries to elicit your opinion about public themselves being regulators/watchdog.
Key demand of the question:
Through various arguments, argue that present regulatory bodies are weak and the public itself can act as powerful watchdog provided banks are more transparent. This should be done in the light of current affairs.
Directive Word:
Comment: Your opinion in the form of arguments and supporting facts needed.
Structure of Answer:
In the introduction, write what the failure of regulators and lack of transparency has done to banking sector and why public needs more say in this smatter.
In the body, in 4-5 main arguments (small paragraphs/points) argue each aspect – failure of regulators, lack of transparency, RTI, etc – and comment why public can be a powerful watchdog. Don’t forget to mention recent current events (You won’t get all points in the reference article. You need to think and answer on your own)
In the conclusion, write about larger role of regulators and why public are stakeholders. You may comment on the failure of state as well.
Topic: Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate.
Why this question?
This question is about human rights and role of many international agencies in protecting them. Important question for Essay.
Key demand of the question:
Examine whether international bodies/laws/conventions have failed in protecting human rights across the world.
Directive Word:
Examine: Inspect thoroughly each aspect of demand of question and present them in answer
Structure of Answer:
In the introduction, write about significance of the findings of report and highlight why human rights today is a multi-dimensional issue. Also write a line about your opinion – i.e. failure of international bodies, laws and conventions.
Divide answer into parts: You can either divide into Institutions, Conventions, Laws and within them examine their role in recent events; or you can divide as Refugee crisis, War crisis, climate change, drug wars, despotism etc and highlight role of international agencies.
Also right few lines about role of local agencies (native governments and institutions)
In conclusion, write about grave consequences of neglecting human rights.
Topic: Separation of powers between various organs dispute redressal mechanisms and institutions.
Why this question?
There will be a question on balance between organs of state. Important question for Mains-2018.
Key demand of the question:
It’s a direct question where you need to analyse how relationship between judiciary and parliament has evolved over the years. Main focus should be on current affairs.
Directive Word:
Analyse: Divide answer into parts and sub-parts, and then examine/comment.
Structure of Answer:
In the introduction, write a general observation how in recent years the balance of power between judiciary and parliament is getting affected by certain transgressions and need for restoring the balance.
In the body, in FIVE parts (check link), analyse each of them. If possible, further divide into sub-parts. Only challenge here is to include current affairs in each part.
In the conclusion write about emerging challenges and need for both organs to respect each other’s autonomy. Or write any related thoughtful conclusion.
Tip: Don’t repeat introduction in conclusion.
General Studies – 3
Topic: Disaster and disaster management.
Why this question?
This issue is in news and definitely going to be major issue in coming days.
Key demand of the question:
There should be two parts – Impact of raising or lowering temperatures of public health and how states should prepare. Give equal weightage to both.
Directive Word:
No directive word is given. This means you should examine and explain in this case. Depending on the nature of question you may choose to either comment or analyse if directive is not mentioned.
Structure of Answer:
In the introduction write about climate change and impact on temperature. Also write a line of health impact and need for states to be proactive and innovative in combating extreme heat and cold.
In the body, there should be TWO mains parts. One for Impact of raising or lowering temperatures of public health; Second for how states should prepare. Divide each part into sub-parts and give good examples (such as data/regions/reports etc)
In the conclusion, write how this can be just a beginning and why states must prepare for worst in future thanks to climate change.
Tip: Highlight definitions and examples. make sure evaluators notice them.
Related Insights Current Affairs Here, Related question,Here, Here,
General Studies – 4
Topic: Public/Civil service values and Ethics in Public administration:
7) Examine the relevance of the following in the context of civil service:
- Spirit of enquiry
- Professional autonomy
- Objectivity
- Courage of integrity
- Political neutrality
Why this question?
Every year UPSC asks similar question in GS-4. Be thorough with similar key terms if Ethics.
Key demand of the question:
Instead of just defining them, you should also write about RELEVANCY of these values in the CONTEXT of civil service. Many a times, students just write definition and explain meaning of these words – don’t do that.
Directive Word:
Examine You have to inspect meaning of these values and how and why they are relevant today.
Structure of Answer:
There should be general introduction before answering question 1. Let it be short 2-3 line introduction explaining why today we need civil servants with such values in civil services (you may quote a recent scam or report)
For each value:
First define them and explain with one line example. Then, write a paragraph to explain why these values are relevant today (For example, Spirit of Enquiry – i.e. inquisitiveness and curiosity to learn new things and raise questions, is needed as public is flooded with fake news and any such news can incite a mob into violence. Hence, civil servant needs to have this value to examine veracity of such news and take action. This value also gives rise to innovative thinking which is very much necessary today in administration)
Then quote a current event while writing about relevancy.
Word limit for each is around 60 words.
Write a general conclusion in 1-2 lines – may be a general comment on the role of government in this regard.
Tip: Be concise. Don’t be verbose. Learn to tell more in few words.
Other Important issues that are NOT covered Today in Secure:
