[Insights Secure – 2018] Daily UPSC Mains Answer Writing Practice: 15 MAY 2018
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LIST of TOPICS (Static)
REVISION TIMETABLE FOR PRELIMS – 2018
General Studies – 1
TOPIC: The Freedom Struggle – its various stages and important contributors
/contributions from different parts of the country.
Key demand of the question
The key phrase in the question is “first systematically organised agitation”. Thus we have to analyze how vaikom Satyagraha took forward the reform movements aimed at eliminating caste discrimination by making it more systematic, organising their charter of demands and systematically protesting. Basically we have to contrast the earlier reform movements against Vaikom Satyagraha and examine how the latter was an improvement.
Directive word
Analyze – When asked to analyze, 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 – Introduce with details about vaikom Satyagraha such as the nature of the movement, the aims and objectives, leaders involved etc
Body
- Analyze the nature of the reform movements – both vaikom and others and how all the reform movements were in similar vein
- Analyze what made vaikom Satyagraha different from the other reform movements – how it was more organised and systematic.
- Discuss whether all the important leaders were involved
- Linkages with national politics
- The way the movement was managed and handled
- Involvement of the masses and organisational capacity etc
Conclusion – Summarize how the said movement differed from other reform movements
Topic – Salient features of world’s (including India) physical geography
Why this question
The recent WHO report has brought into focus the problem of severe air pollution, particularly in North India. The first step in dealing with any problem is identification of the causes. Thus this question becomes important.
Key demand of the question
Following points are to be mentioned in your answer
- Detail out the severity of air pollution in India in general and over North India in particular
- Examine the causes behind air pollution over North India
- Analyze whether the causes are all due to geographical limitations that the region has or due to man made issues
- Mention in brief suggestions to address the situation
Directive word
Critically examine – When you are asked to examine, you have to probe deeper into the topic, get into details, and find out the causes or implications if any. When ‘critically’ is suffixed or prefixed to a directive, all you need to do is look at the good and bad of something and give a fair judgement.
Structure of the answer
Introduction – Detail out the magnitude of the problem of air pollution with emphasis over the severity of the situation in North India.
Body
- Examine the various causes
- Analyze whether the reason is on account of geographical disadvantages or man made reasons or a combination of the two
- Suggest some ways to mitigate this challenge
Conclusion – Provide your view based on arguments made.
General Studies – 2
Topic – Functions and responsibilities of the Union and the States, issues and challenges pertaining to the federal structure, devolution of powers and finances up to local levels and challenges therein.
Why this question
The terms of reference (TOR) of the 15th finance commission have been under criticism from the states, especially the southern states, for various reasons. The question is related to GS-2 syllabus under the following heading-
Functions and responsibilities of the Union and the States, issues and challenges pertaining to the federal structure, devolution of powers and finances up to local levels and challenges therein.
Key demand of the question
The question wants us to bring out the salient provisions of the TOR of the 15th finance commission and discuss how they would affect federalism in India.
Directive word
Discuss- we have to write in detail about the important provisions of the TOR of the 15th finance commission and how they would affect the federal structure of India.
Structure of the answer
Introduction– give a brief description of the finance commission, its constitutional powers and mandate.
Body- Discuss in points, how the TOR of 15th finance commission will affect federalism.
e.g. change in population base and consequent change in resources allocation,
power of the commission to review the award of its predecessor i.e 14th finance commission, increase in share of centrally sponsored schemes, reversing the 14th Finance Commission’s efforts to ensure that the discretionary element in the grant given by the Commission is totally eliminated etc.
Conclusion- mention the imperative of fiscal federalism and diverse nature of states which demands devolution of sufficient powers- legal and financial.
Topic: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health ; Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the
performance of these schemes
Why this question
Ayushman Bharat is a flagship scheme in healthcare which has to be prepared in detail.
Key demand of the question
The first part of the question requires us to compare the provisions of Ayushman Bharat with RSBY in which detailed comparison of the provisions of the two scheme is to be written. The second part of the question demands us to delve deeper into the challenges that might be faced in the implementation of the scheme.
Directive word
Discuss – Here we need to compare the provisions of the two scheme, highlight how one is an improvement of the other and provide a fair view at the end.
Examine – We have to delve deeper into the challenges of implementing Ayushman Bharat, the impacts these challenges might have on the future of the scheme and way forward.
Structure of the answer
Introduction – Briefly explain the aims and objectives of Ayushman Bharat and RSBY.
Body
- Compare and contrast the provisions of Ayushman Bharat and RSBY to determine whether the former is an improvement over the latter.
- Discuss the challenges under various heads like financial, capacity building, infrastructure etc. Discuss the impact these challenges would have on the future of the scheme if left unresolves.
- Discuss the ways in which these challenges can be mitigated by taking learnings from the implementation of RSBY
Conclusion – mention the need for such a scheme for solving the health woes of a large section of the population.
General Studies – 3
TOPIC:Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment.
Why this question
India us a huge marketplace and as the economy grows, it will become even more lucrative. The recent deal between Flipkart and Walmart highlights the significance of Indian market and also points out the inadequacies on part of indian businesses.
The question is related to GS-3 syllabus under the following heading-
Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment.
Key demand of the question
The question wants us to write in detail about the importance of having homegrown internet giants and how India could use its sheer marker power to achieve that.
Directive word
Discuss- we have to write at length that how can India use its market power to facilitate creation of homegrown internet giants, what are the tools / strategies through which Indian can achieve that.
Structure of the answer
Introduction- Highlight India’s economic potential, human resource availability and market size which make it likely to have homegrown internet giants like facebook, google, amazon etc.
Body- Discuss in points, what strategies and tools could be deployed by India to achieve the same target.
e.g corporate structures which allow promoters with minority stake a proportionately greater say in the decision making, restrictions at foreign e-commerce agents selling at negative margins or involved in deep discounting at the back of the foreign capital, incentivising investment in domestic ventures, protecting internet privacy etc.
Conclusion- mention the importance of home grown internet giants and possibility of achieving the afore discussed goal.
Topic: Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc., Investment models.
Why this question
Recently India achieved universal electrification as per the official definition of electrification. This is a big milestone for India but there are several issues involved which hamper the access to clean, reliable and affordable electricity for all. The issue is related to GS 3 syllabus under the following heading-
Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc., Investment models.
Key demand of the question
The question wants us to put reasons in support of the given statement i.e The aspiration for access to clean, reliable and affordable power for all is not free from barriers and fallibility and justify the same with the help of facts/ arguments.
Directive word
Examine- we have to dig deeper into the issue and bring out reasons in support of the given statement. We have to justify that universal electrification will not be enough to provide a reliable and affordable power for all.
Structure of the answer
Introduction- mention India’s recent achievement of universal electrification.
Body- discuss the definition of electrification and then discuss in points about, why a reliable and affordable power for all is a distant dream.
e.g 33 million rural households still not electrified, inadequate distribution and transmission infrastructure, concurrence between energy poverty and economic poverty like in states of UP, MP, Bihar, Odisha etc, weak financial position of state discoms and huge debts etc.
Conclusion- bring out a fair and balanced opinion based on the above discussion and highlight the importance of electrification for development.
General Studies – 4
Topic:Attitude: content, structure, function; its influence and relation with thought and behaviour; moral and political attitudes; social influence and persuasion.
7)Discuss the relationship between attitude change and social persuasion.(250 words)
Why this question
The question is related to GS-4 syllabus under the following heading-
Attitude: content, structure, function; its influence and relation with thought and behaviour; moral and political attitudes; social influence and persuasion.
Key demand of the question
The question wants us to write in detail about the relationship between attitude and social persuasion.
Directive word
Discuss- we have to write in detail about,how social persuasion influences the attitude of a person.
Structure of the answer
Introduction- Define attitude and in 1-2 lines, highlight its importance.
Body- Discuss to what extent and how social persuasion affects the attitude of a person. Take help of the article attached with the question to gather points to form your answer.
Conclusion– Bring out a fair, concise and balanced conclusion on the above issue and discuss some areas where it can be practically applied e.g Swachh Bharat, Environmental conservation etc.
