New Articles
[Insights Secure – 2018] Daily UPSC Mains Answer Writing Practice: 21 April 2018
[Insights Secure – 2018] Daily UPSC Mains Answer Writing Practice: 21 April 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)
REVISION TIMETABLE FOR PRELIMS – 2018
General Studies – 1
Topic: Salient features of Indian Society, Diversity of India. Role of women and women’s organization, population and associated issues, poverty and developmental issues, urbanization, their problems and their remedies. Effects of globalization on Indian society Social empowerment, communalism, regionalism & secularism.
1) Discuss the role of Indian women in socio-religious reform movements of the nineteenth century.
Why this question
The question is related to the GS-1 syllabus under the following heading- Salient features of Indian Society, Diversity of India. Role of women and women’s organization, population and associated issues, poverty and developmental issues, urbanization, their problems and their remedies. Effects of globalization on Indian society Social empowerment, communalism, regionalism & secularism.
Key demand of the question
The question is straightforward. We have to discuss the role of Indian women in socio-religious reform movements of 19th century India. The key demand here is to give examples of Indian women, women organizations, movements in which women participated.
Directive word
Discuss- we have to write in detail about the socio-religious reform movements of 19th century India and discuss how Indian women contributed to them. We have to be descriptive and provide as many examples as possible.
Structure of the answer
Introduction- you can introduce your answer by briefly discussing how the advent of colonialism fuelled the socio-religious reform movements in India and role of pioneer Indian men.
Body- describe the prominent Indian women and women organizations who worked for social religious reform. Be as exhaustive as possible in describing the contribution and the related area. Also, give as many examples as possible. e.g Pundita Ramabai, Arya Mahila Sabha, Banga Mahila Samaj, Aghorekamini Nari Samiti etc.
Conclusion- you can conclude your answer by mentioning that growing nationalism increasing the participation, demands and role of women in Indian politics and reform movements.
comprehensive and integrated planning for defence matters
Topic: The Freedom Struggle – its various stages and important contributors /contributions from different parts of the country
Key demand of the question
The focus should be on listing down the various manifestations of protest during NCM and a brief commentary on their impact and shortcomings
Directive word
Discuss – We have to list down the various manifestations of protest during NCM, their reach, impact and shortcoming.
Structure of the answer
Introduction – Mention that NCM was the 1st mass movement and list down the sections of society who took part in it including Khilafat Movement. Also mention that NCM represented mass usage of Gandhian tools for the first time
Body
- Discuss the various forms of protest such as Kisan Sabha Meetings, picketing, lawyers giving up practice wtc
- Discuss how successful and widespread each of these protests were
- If you feel, there were shortcomings in the form of protests mention those. For instance the Kisan Sabha protests turned violent especially in UP etc
Conclusion – Mention that NCM was the first test of Gandhian tools of freedom struggle, essence remained the same later as well but forms of protest varied slightly.
General Studies – 2
Topic: Structure, organization and functioning of the Executive and the Judiciary Ministries and Departments of the Government; pressure groups and formal/informal associations and their role in the Polity.
Why this question
Recently the law commission recommended The Law Ministry to bring BCCI under the purview of RTI act. BCCI and issues related to sports administration have been in news for a long time. So the question is important for mains exam and is related to GS- 2 syllabus under the following heading- Structure, organization and functioning of the Executive and the Judiciary Ministries and Departments of the Government; pressure groups and formal/informal associations and their role in the Polity.
Key demand of the question
The question wants to know our opinion on the issue of bringing BCCI under the purview of RTI act. Whether we are in favor of the recommendation or not, and why.
Directive word
Comment- we have to form an opinion on the given issue and give reasons/ justifications/ arguments in favor of our opinion.
Structure of the answer
Introduction- you can start your answer by mentioning that BCCI is originally a body registered under the Tamil Nadu Societies Registration Act and that Supreme Court has already declared BCCI to be a public body.
Body- present your opinion on the issue and then discuss in points in favor of your opinion.
e.g BCCI is a public body, is ruled by the SC, The BCCI nominates cricketers to the Arjuna Award, BCCI and international relations, BCCI being a national sports Federation etc.
Conclusion- present your conclusion along with briefly discuss in 1-2 lines, what are the difficulties faced in implementing this order/ recommendation.
TOPIC: Topic – Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Education
WHy this question
RTE is a very important initiative of the government and thus needs to be prepared in depth
Key demand of the question
The question demands us to highlight the implementation challenges of RTE. The issue has to be examined in depth including reasons for the challenges, ways of addressing it and the impact those challenges have on successful implementation of RTE
Directive word
Critically Examine – Focus should be on going deep into the issue by answering the parts of the question highlighted above and providing a fair and balanced opinion in the end.
Structure of the answer
Introduction – Discuss the long history of RTE in brief to bring out that several changes have happened in RTE over the years, and several more need to happen for ensuring that RTE is successful
Body
- Bring out the implementation challenges in RTE
- Learning outcomes
- NDP
- Debate over the implementation of RTE in case of private unaided schools etc
- Each issue that you discuss also needs to contain
- Why the challenge persists
- How those challenges are hindering the attainment of overall objective of RTE
- WHat more can be done to address it
Conclusion – Highlight the importance of education for addressing the problem of India’s demographic bulge. Also provide your opinion on whether you think RTE in its current form would be able to address the challenge. Bring out that commitment and resolved is required for successful implementation of RTE.
General Studies – 3
Topic: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment. Inclusive growth and issues arising from it.
Why this question
India as a hostile neighborhood, diverse strategic interests and more importantly the aspirations being a developed nation. Thus it is an important question for a country like India. The question is related to GS3 syllabus under the following heading- Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment. Inclusive growth and issues arising from it.
It is also related to GS2 syllabus under the following heading- Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health,
Education, Human Resources.
Key demand of the question
The question wants us to analyze whether developing countries like India should increase their defence budget even when they have a paucity of funds for development. We also have to see the implications of our opinion.
Directive word
Critically examine- we have to probe deeper into the issue, form a judgment and examine the implications of our judgment.
Structure of the answer
Introduction- you can introduce your answer by quoting India’s Defence budget and compare it to other countries, mention the trend in its allocation etc.
Body- divide the body the answer into two main parts.
In one part, briefly discuss the need to have more funds for development but at the same time reiterate the need for a robust defense system for a country like India.
In the other part, discuss in points, why India’s Defence budget should be increased.
e.g need for modernization, low budget vis a vis other countries, high revenue expenditure leaving less space for capital expenses etc.
Conclusion – briefly present your conclusion along with a few suggestions, like rationalization of Manpower, employing Technology, private sector participation etc.
Topic – Various Security forces and agencies and their mandate.
WHy this question
In a significant defence policy reform notified on April 18, 2018, the government has revamped the existing defence planning system by establishing a Defence Planning Committee (DPC) under the chairmanship of the National Security Adviser (NSA). The new measure, arguably the boldest defence reform in decades, is likely to have a far reaching consequence on the way defence planning is undertaken and on defence preparedness.Hence the topic is important
Key demand of the question
The focus is on analyzing the formation of DPC and whether it represents a break from the past or whether its old wine in a new bottle. The objectives, pros and cons have to be mentioned.
Directive word
Examine – Get deeper into the formation of DPC, analyze its objectives, benefits, and potential impacts
Structure of the answer
Introduction – Explain what a DPC is and whether such a body existed in the past
Body
- Highlight the objectives with which the DPC has been formed as well as other details about DPC – such as role, tenure etc
- Highlight how DPC will address the lacunae in policy making architecture
- Greater coordination
- Will lay down security doctrines missing in India so far
- Chief of Defense Staff – a long standing demand
- etc
- Highlight how DPC is not pathbreaking and will fail to alter the status quo
- Not a lot of interface with think tanks etc
Conclusion – Mention your opinion on DPC and whether it will help transform policymaking keeping India’s national security in mind.
Topic – Disaster and disaster management.
Why this question
The recent wildfire tragedy in TN, in which 20 trekkers lost their lives, once again brings into focus forest fires in India. Over the past few years, we have realised that these fires are not spontaneous; human beings set off fires. Forest fires are a natural disaster which hasn’t received the kind of attention it deserves.
Key demand of the question
The question is quite pointed in what it demands in the answer.
Directive word
Discuss – Go through the details of the demands of the question and examine each aspect in depth from multiple perspectives. While discussing approaches, evaluate its efficacy as well.
Structure of the answer
Introduction – Describe what is a forest fire and point out the growing incidents of forest fire
Body
- Discuss causes of forest fire – natural causes as well as the reasons behind man made causes
- Discuss how we deal with forest fire and the lacunae
- Discuss the way ahead – cover multiple perspectives such as immediate response, addressing the economic angle etc
Conclusion – Summarize the challenge that forest fire throws from disaster management and why we should focus on addressing this challenge asap.