[Insights Secure – 2018] Daily UPSC Mains Answer Writing Practice: 08 AUGUST 2018
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LIST of TOPICS (Static)
General Studies – 2
Topic– Indian Constitution- historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments,
significant provisions and basic structure.
Why this question
Srikrishna Committee has been in the news lately for coming out with the draft data protection Bill. While some have praised the bill for suggesting a framework to ensure data protection, critics have argued that the Bill sacrifices individual freedom in favour of collective security and nation’s economy. This question requires you to examine this debate.
Key demand of the question
The question expects us to bring out both the sides of the aforementioned debate. Next, we need to examine the provisions of the committee’s suggestions to see whether the point of the critics has any merit. Our fair and balanced view on this debates needs to be mentioned at the end.
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 – Give an overview of the committee’s observations and suggestions, the provisions of the data protection Bill.
Body
- Give an overview of the debate along with the relevant provisions of the draft Bill
- Explain why this claim has been made in the question that the Bill’s recommendations do not only undermine the legal principles stated by the SC in Puttaswamy judgement but also re-interpret them.
- Give reasons why the above claim might not be true. Take suggestions from the Hindu article
Conclusion – Give your opinion on the debate based on your arguments and suggest way forward.
Topic – Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.
Why this question
Skill development is critical for enabling the youth and the domestic workforce to be productive and in order to increase their employability. The government has taken various initiatives in this direction, with establishing and/ or supporting skill training centres being one of them. It is essential to know the Somaiya Committee report which deals with this particular aspect.
Directive word
Comment- here we have to express our knowledge and understanding of the issue and form an overall opinion thereupon.
Key demand of the question.
The question wants us to express our knowledge and understanding of write in detail about the findings of the Somaiya committee report and express our opinion thereupon.
Structure of the answer
Introduction– Write a few lines about the history of Industrial Training Institutes and Skill development centres and their rising number.
Body-
- write a few lines about the Somaiya Committee. E.g its official name, head, purpose of formation and when it presented its report.
- Bring out the findings of the report and discuss the grim situation of the skill training centres in India. E.g shappy and temporary infrastructure, disregard for norms rather than efficiency for huge participation of private sector, the lack of a regulator for skill development, with teeth, has led to poor quality affiliation, assessment and certification; poorly paid teachers and poor quality teaching etc.
Conclusion– briefly discuss what should be done in this regard. E.g mention the Shantha Prasad Committee recommendations- better oversight, with a national board for all skill development programmes. The core work (accreditation, assessment, certification and course standards) should not be outsourced; A ranking of the ITIs on several parameters such as the one done by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council in tertiary education can be replicated; need to create a unified national vocational system etc.
Topic– Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests, Indian diaspora.
Why this question
The world is being transformed by technology at a very rapid rate and in unpredictable ways. It is essential to know about how technology is shaping the world and what could be its policy implications for India.
Directive word
Comment- here we have to express our knowledge and understanding of the issue and form an overall opinion thereupon.
Key demand of the question.
The question wants us to present our opinion on the way technology is shaping the world and discuss in detail about the possible policy implications for India.
Structure of the answer
Introduction– write a few lines about the growing penetration of technology across the world, automation, growth of a closely knit economy with increasing dominance of multinational companies, foreign investment etc. Mention that they have implications for any modern nation, especially India, the world’s fastest growing large economy.
Body-
Discuss in points, what could be the possible policy implications for India.
E.g Global commerce is increasingly transacted electronically and Foreign capital relocates with remarkable speed on the first signs of perceived fragility or on spotting an emerging opportunity. This demands an inbuilt safeguards to hedge against risks of volatility; globally harmonised intellectual property regime is bound to take shape, elbowing out the current flexibility available with India; a silo based approach needs to be jettisoned for carving out a unified technology policy as Modern technology is facilitating remarkable convergence; need to focus on embedding Indian manufacturing into global value chains in areas of advanced manufacturing etc.
Conclusion– based on your discussion, form a fair and a balanced conclusion on the issue.
General Studies – 3
Topic- Indian Economy – Issues
Why this question
The article discusses the observations of the Somaiya committee on ITIs which paints a sad picture of the status of Skill India Mission. Since this mission is one of the key government initiatives, this report provides good filler material for preparing Skill India and other related topic for mains.
Directive word
Discuss – The findings of the report has to be discussed, along with an analysis of what this means for the progress of Skill India Mission.
Key demand of the question
The question expects us to explain the role that ITIs are expected to play in skilling of people. Next, we need to examine the observations and issues pointed out by the standing committee of parliament with regards to ITIs. We need to discuss in detail the reasons for poor performance of ITIs and give suggestions for course correction
Structure of the answer
Introduction – Give the status of skilling in India which is despite the various missions undertaken by the government
Body
- Discuss the observations made by the committee regarding the status of ITIs – increase in numbers since inception, mostly private, show a scant regard for norms and standards etc. Also touch upon the observations made with regards to NSDC.
- Discuss the issues plaguing skilling efforts such as – quality control, lack of regulator for skill development, responsibility outsourcing, no oversight, connivance and an ownership tussle between the Central and State governments. Discuss these issues in detail along with its impact.
- Discuss the way forward by talking about the Sharda Prasad committee recommendations
Conclusion – Emphasize on the importance of skilling and give a way forward.
Topic– Internal security
Why this question
Tax havens often comes to mind when we talk of black money. It is a significant challenge for any nation, and the article presents an alternative viewpoint of dealing with tax havens, which needs examination.
Key demand of the question
The question expects us to explain what tax havens are and how do they impact a nation’s economy and security. Thereafter we need to evaluate the viewpoint expressed in the article given in the link which holds that crackdown on tax havens lead to lowering of ability to recover taxes.
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 – Explain what tax havens are.
Body – Discuss the threat that tax havens pose to economy and security of nations through its role in tax evasion and money laundering. Thereafter, we need to examine whether our method of dealing with tax havens helped us in resolving issues, or whether we need to think of alternatives to dealing with tax havens
General Studies – 4
Topic- Contributions of moral thinkers and philosophers from India and world.
6) Values play a central role in the ancient philosophy of India. Discuss. (250 words)
Why this question
Indian philosophies is one of the oldest philosophies in the world with certain peculiar traits and lines of thought. Indian philosophy has a lot to share with the western and eastern philosophies but also differs from them in certain key respects.
Directive word
Key demand of the question.
The question simply wants us to dig deep into the Indian philosophy and write in detail about the role and importance of values in Indian philosophy.
Structure of the answer
Introduction– briefly discuss Indian philosophies roots in vedas and their link with morality.
Body –
- Discuss main schools of Indian Philosophy and differentiate between orthodox and heterodox schools of thought.
- Discuss the similarities of Indian philosophies and their stress on linking philosophy with practice. E.g Indian ethics is based on Purusarthas i.e. ultimate goal of life. The Indian conception of values- viz the four connote as the goals of human life to be achieved through activities or practice, Indian philosophy is mainly axiological and additionally, cosmological and epistemological etc.
Conclusion– present a balanced and fair conclusion on the key demand of the question.
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