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[Insights Secure – 2018] Daily UPSC Mains Answer Writing Practice: 21 JULY 2018
[Insights Secure – 2018] Daily UPSC Mains Answer Writing Practice: 21 JULY 2018
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LIST of TOPICS (Static)
General Studies – 2
Topic– Parliament and State Legislatures – structure, functioning, conduct of business, powers & privileges and issues arising out of these.
Why this question
Recently as no-confidence motion was invoked against the incumbent government. It is important to know its significance. It is also essential to know how far this tool has been successful in ensuring responsibility of the government.
Key demand of the question
The question wants us to express our understanding of the no-confidence motion. It also wants us to express our opinion on whether Vote of no-confidence has largely been successful in ensuring the responsibility of the government to the house- yes/no. We have to defend our opinion with proper arguments/ examples/ facts.
Directive word
Comment- Comment- here we have to express our knowledge and understanding of the issue and form an overall opinion thereupon. Our opinion has to be backed by proper and valid arguments/ facts/ examples.
Structure of the answer
Introduction– Write a few lines about the no-confidence motion. E.g it is not explicitly mentioned in the constitution; implicitly stated in Article 75 which spells out that “the council of ministers shall be collectively responsible to the House of the People etc.
Body-
- Discuss the purpose of a confidence/ non-confidence motion.
- Discuss the procedure and requirements for passing a non-confidence motion.
- Discuss the implications of a successful no-confidence motion.
- Discuss the history of no-confidence motion in India. E.g how many times it has been moved in total, how many times it has been successful; what has been the impact of the anti-defection law on the effectiveness of no-confidence motion.
Conclusion– Based on your discussion, form a fair and a balanced conclusion on the above issue.
Topic – Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to
Education
2) Examine whether HECI Bill stays true to the maxim “less government, more governance”?(250 words)
Why this question
Analysis of HECI Bill has adorned the opinion columns of all newspaper’s editorial pages. HECI Bill proposes major changes in the regulatory architecture of India’s higher education. The challenge is to ensure that the lessons from UGC are learnt. This questions tries to analyze that aspect and hence is important.
Key demand of the question
The question expects us to delve deeper into a key objective of the government in bringing the HECI Bill, which seeks to ensure that higher education is made free from the regulatory obstructions that it experienced frequently in the UGC regime. Thus we have to examine the provisions of the bill and see if it lessens the involvement of government and its bodies in the functioning and management of higher educational institutions.
Directive word
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.
Structure of the answer
Introduction – Give details about HECI Bill and underline the fact that the Bill aims to reduce the role of government in management and functioning of higher education
Body
- Explain what is meant by “less government more governance” – downsize scope of regulator, remove interference etc
- Discuss how the Bill seeks to achieve this – replacing UGC which was saddled with such issues, resting power in an independent commission etc
- Examine how far the legislation fulfills it’s mandate of lessening government’s overarching control – discuss how the government still retains control as discussed in the articles.
Conclusion – Give your view on what reforms should be brought in the Bill in its current shape.
Topic–Part of static series under the heading – “Concept of Judicial Review”
Key demand of the question
The first part of the question is fairly straightforward in its demand. In the second part, we need to explain what Article 142 is, what falls under unfettered use with illustrations and whether we can explicitly call it judicial overreach. In this part, there is scope of formation of personal opinion.
Directive word
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.
Structure of the answer
Introduction – You can give a broad introduction saying that in a constitutional democracy, the role of judiciary is to act as a check and balance and protect the constitution.
Body
- Explain judicial review as the power of judiciary to review the validity of laws passed by legislature, provided under Article 13. Explain Judicial activism as a more active role taken by Judiciary to dispense social justice. Discuss when judicial activism transgresses into judicial overreach. Give illustrations
- With illustrations, explain what unfettered use of article 142 mean. Explain that the judiciary is right in playing a more activist role, however it should restrain itself from entering into explicit executive domain
Conclusion – Give your opinion on the second part of the question.
General Studies – 3
Topic – Challenges to internal security through communication networks
Why this question
Lynchings, role of social media in perpetration of such crimes, need for a law against lynching have been in news quite frequently. Both these articles covers these issues and are thus important.
Key demand of the question
The question expects us to examine the role that WhatsApp and other social media plays in perpetration of such crimes and how far are they accountable for such crimes. We need to give arguments from both side of the debate i.e. explain why WhatsApp and other social media would be liable, and also how transferring responsibility to these applications reflects poorly on the capacity of law enforcement agencies. Thereafter, we need to provide suggestions to explain how can we deal with this menace.
Directive word
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 – Highlight the recent incidents of lynching which underline the debate that it raises.
Body
- Give reasons for why WhatsApp and other social media should be held liable for the fake messages which have led to lynchings.
- Discuss why it would be incorrect to absolve law enforcement agencies, and lack of legal provisions to deal with such matter
- Discuss the steps taken by WhatsApp to deal with the spread of fake messages through this platform
- Give suggestions on how we can deal with this issue holistically – your suggestions should specifically explain what the role of WhatsApp, government, law enforcement agency and wider public should be
Conclusion – emphasize that this issue requires urgent attention as it has the potential to harm our social fabric. Give the way forward in nutshell.
Topic-Disaster and disaster management.
Why this question
Climate change and a rapid pace of urbanization has led to an increase in the frequency as well as intensity of urban floods. Indian cities are not immune to the problem and given the increased urbanization in India, it is essential to discuss practical solutions for the problem.
Key demand of the question.
The question wants us to bring out the meaning of a Sponge city. It also wants us to write in detail about the relevance of the sponge cities in the urban landscape.
Directive word
Discuss- This s an all-encompassing directive which mandates us to write in detail about the key demand of the question. We also have to discuss about the related and important aspects of the question in order to bring out a complete picture of the issue in hand.
Structure of the answer
Introduction– Bring out the meaning of a sponge city. E.g A sponge city is a city that is designed to passively absorb, clean and use rainfall in an ecologically friendly way that reduces dangerous and polluted runoff. Associated techniques include permeable roads,rooftop gardens, rainwater harvesting, rain gardens, green space and blue space such as ponds and lakes.
Body-
Discuss its working in detail and also discuss whether such city development programmes are required and desirable in case of India.
E.g It’s a new way of thinking about stormwater, not as a problem but as an opportunity and a resource to augment our water supply; By catching water at the tops of buildings and other places, and storing it in soil (and tanks for later use in the garden when it’s dry), water can be used to keep green spaces verdant, provide an outdoor area for the people who live and work in the building, and even be used to grow food etc.
Also mention the growing urbanization and related projections for future India. Mention the recent mega-floods like the Chennai floods, Srinagar floods etc and discuss how the concept of sponge cities can be effectively employed in case of Indian cities.
Conclusion– Based on your discussion, form a fair and a balanced conclusion on the given issue.
Topic-Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics, nanotechnology, biotechnology and issues relating to intellectual property rights.
Why this question
Internet is increasingly playing a vital role in our lives. It is essential to know the policies of the tech giants like Google, facebook which hold billions of subscribers across the world. Google has been recently fined for its anti-competition practices. It is important to know the reason behind such a fine.
Key demand of the question.
The question wants us to express our knowledge and understanding of the issue and bring out whether the recent European Commission decision has been a step in the right direction or not.
Directive word
Critically comment- here we have to form an opinion on the issue while weighing down both its positive aspects as well as negative aspects.
Structure of the answer
Introduction – Write a few lines about the recent European Commission’s decision to impose a fine of 5 billion dollars on Google. Mention the reasons for the imposition of fine- e.g contracting with hardware manufacturers to put its search engine and services like Gmail and YouTube in the face of users, and thus reducing the chances that they would exercise choice and give competitors a chance.
Body-
- Discuss the pros of such a decision- e.g restriction of anti-competitive practices; providing a fair chance to other businesses; fostering innovation; availability of more choice to users etc.
- Discuss the negative aspects of such a decision. E.g adverse reaction on part of European Commision to protect its own companies against American tech-giants; Android has been one of the most successful open source softwares which boosted innovation in the digital world, which could be hurt due to the imposition of the fine; etc.
Conclusion- Mention the inadequacies in the US laws which has resulted in the above situation and need for a fair, open and an equal internet and digital space which could be harnessed for the greater good of all.
General Studies – 4
Topic– Contributions of moral thinkers and philosophers from India and world.
Lexicon Ethics Book
Key demand of the question.
The question wants us to delve deep into the materialistic philosophy of ancient India and bring out its salient aspects and write in detail about its similarities and differences with the spiritualist philosophy.
Directive word
Discuss- This s an all-encompassing directive which mandates us to write in detail about the key demand of the question. We also have to discuss about the related and important aspects of the question in order to bring out a complete picture of the issue in hand.
Structure of the answer
Introduction – Write a few lines about the Indian materialistic philosophy. E.g it is regarded as the most radical of the Indian philosophical systems; it rejects supernaturalism; rejects ethical systems that are grounded in supernaturalistic cosmologies; is strictly associated with pleasure and the only ethical obligation forwarded by the system is the maximization of one’s own pleasure.
Body-
- Discuss the differences between Indian materialistic school and the spiritualistic school.
- DIscuss the similarities between Indian materialistic school and the spiritualistic school.
Take the help of the book and the article attached to the question to frame your answer.
Conclusion-Based on your discussion, form a fair and a balanced conclusion on the issue.
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