[Insights Secure – 2019] Daily UPSC Mains Answer Writing Practice: 13 NOVEMBER 2018
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Tomorrow’s Static Topic: Land reforms in India.
General Studies – 2
Topic- Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies
Why this question
RBI’s economic capital framework and the quantum of its reserves have been the source of much discussion in the past few days. Understanding what economic capital framework is and the entire debate surrounding it is important from the point of mains.
Key demand of the question
The first part of the question expects us to explain what economic capital framework is and what role does it play in the economy. Thereafter, we need to discuss the debate surrounding the level of reserves that RBI should maintain, and how this issue can be reconciled.
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 – Bring out the context due to which the issue is in news
Body
- Explain what economic capital framework is and how is it useful for the economy
- Thereafter, bring out the debate surrounding capital framework and the amount of RBI’s reserves, whether there is a need for less prudence, and who should be the deciding factor. Compare the level of India’s reserves vis a vis other countries and whether this level of risk aversion is harmful for the economy.
- Discuss the recommendations of economic survey regarding this
- Suggest what the way forward can be such an independent committee which will suggest what the best course of action should be
Conclusion – give a fair and balanced view on the debate over economic capital framework and what the way forward should be to reconcile differences.
Topic – Issues relating to poverty and hunger.
Directive word
Discuss- this is 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.
Key demand of the question.
The question wants us to write in detail about the issues faced by Poshan Abhiyan which need rectification in order to make the programme successful and achieve its stated objectives.
Structure of the answer
Introduction– write a few introductory lines about the Poshan Abhiyan. E.g It aims to drastically reduce the prevailing high incidence of malnutrition, stunted growth and anaemia. The intention is to do this through convergence, mass movements and leveraging technology.
Body-
Discuss in points the issues associated with programme. E.g many of the AWCs lack basic amenities and face infrastructure problems. Around 24% of them lacked their own building and operated from small rented premises, and around 14% lacked pucca buildings; To overcome the challenges of the tedious and irregular system of manually maintaining daily registers and monitor growth efficiently, information and communications technology-enabled real time monitoring (ICT-RTM) has been rolled out in POSHAN Abhiyaan districts. This helped identify 12,000 severely malnourished children in 46 districts of six states; However, this could be rendered ineffective due to the limited capacities of AWWs to handle smartphones owing to their lack of technological literacy. This is compounded by technical issues like slow servers and data deletion problems, resulting in irregular and improper recording of growth data of children; AWWs are the fulcrum of POSHAN Abhiyaan and render vital services to mothers and children in villages. Despite their indispensability, nearly 40% of AWWs had to use their personal money to run the AWCs, 35% of them complained of delayed payments (Progress of Children Under Six Report, 2016), and administrative duties like organizing functions, and conducting exams and surveys distracted them from their core health and nutrition responsibilities. Thus, overburdened with work, undervalued and underpaid, AWWs have become demotivated and demoralized etc.
Conclusion– based on your discussion, form a fair and a balanced conclusion on the given issue.
General Studies – 3
Topic– Indian Economy : Issues
Why this question
The article discusses the correlation between parameters of doing business ranking and actual changes on ground. In light of recent improvement in India’s ranking on doing business rankings is a matter of price and its reasons and impacts be discussed in detail.
Key demand of the question
The question expects us to explain the factors responsible for improvement in India’s rankings in brief and whether such improvements have positively altered business of all hues. We need to bring out both aspects – advantages of focussing on rankings, and whether we are compromising with other reforms which should have been focussed on.
Directive word
Critically 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. 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 – Highlight the brilliant improvement seen in India’s EODB rankings.
Body
- Discuss the improvements that led to improvement in EODB in India. Discuss the steps that have been taken to improve ranking in specific areas
- Examine whether the jump in the ratings is aligned with the experiences of people conversant with the business climate.
- Give pros and cons of the ranking metric such as that it represents the sample space in cities, and that the metric is easy to game. Highlight that it does lead to improvement in business sentiments.
Conclusion – Give a fair and balanced view and discuss way forward.
Topic– Inclusive growth and issues arising from it.
Why this question
The article discusses the priorities that require improvement of we wish to fulfill the SDGs and examines India’s progress in achieving the goals. The topic can be prepared for it can serve as a filler material for several questions of paper 2 and 3.
Key demand of the question
The question expects us to bring out the criticism of SDGs. Having done that we need to evaluate the validity of those criticisms based on the results seen in India. Discuss whether even partial fulfillment of targets would help in addressing several pertinent issues. Discuss what must be fine to accelerate the fulfilment of targets under SDGs
Directive word
Evaluate – When you are asked to evaluate, you have to pass a sound judgement about the truth of the given statement in the question or the topic based on evidences. You have to appraise the worth of the statement in question. There is scope for forming a personal opinion here.
Structure of the answer
Introduction – Explain what SDGs are and the targets under SDG
Body – analyze the criticism of SDGs that they are wishful and unattainable because they have set impossible targets which are difficult to fulfill by 2030. Bring out that it does impact the policy priorities of the government as seen in India. Evaluate India’s progress and the nature of steps taken in India to show that it leads to improvements in several issues related to poverty and hunger etc.
Conclusion – Support the idea of SDG by emphasizing on the paradigm shift that it has brought in and discuss the way forward.
Topic – Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics, nano-technology, bio-technology and issues relating to intellectual property rights.
5) Discuss how biotechnology can solve the problems faced by India today.(250 words)
Why this question
Biotechnology has made huge progress and along with nanotechnology and artificial intelligence, it is going to play a huge role in the future. In this context it is important to discuss how it can help solving the problems faced by India today.
Directive word
Discuss- this is 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.
Key demand of the question.
The question wants us to write in detail about the uses of biotechnology in terms of solving the health, environmental and other problems faced by today’s India.
Structure of the answer
Introduction– write a few introductory lines about the progress witnessed in the biotechnology sector.
Body-
Discuss in points/ paragraphs, the scope and use of biotechnology in solving the problems faced by India. E.g
Discuss how biotechnology can be used to solve the problems related to;
- Environment
- Health and Lifestyle diseases
- Infectious diseases
- Health of the old people
- Food production and agriculture etc
Conclusion– based on your discussion, form a fair and a balanced conclusion on the given issue.
Topic– Food processing and related industries in India- scope and significance, location, upstream and downstream requirements, supply chain management.
Directive word
Discuss- this is 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.
Key demand of the question.
The question wants us to write in detail about the initiatives and steps taken by the Indian government in order to attract investment in food processing sector of India.
Structure of the answer
Introduction- write a few introductory lines about the importance of food processing industry in value addition and in improving the income of Indian farmers etc.
Body-
Discuss in points/ paragraphs about the recent initiatives taken by the government to attract investment in food processing industry in India. E.g
- Discuss about the investors portal, Nivesh Bandhu.
- Discuss about Pradhan Mantri Kisan SAMPADA Yojana.
- Food and agro-based processing unit and cold chain infrastructure have been classified under agriculture activities for Priority Sector Lending.
- Service Tax on pre-conditioning, pre-coding, ripening, waxing, retail packaging and labelling of fruits and vegetables exempted in cold chain projects etc.
Conclusion– based on your discussion, form a fair and a balanced conclusion on the given issue.
Topic– Part of static series under the heading – “land reforms in india”
Key demand of the question
The question expects us to explain in brief the diverse nature of land reforms undertaken in our country. Your answer should cover the aims they were trying to achieve, the result, the impact etc. Thereafter, move on to establishing the need for a digitisation drive for land records, and ways we can go about it.Directive word
Discuss – The various land reform initiatives undertaken by the government since independence has to be explained in brief – the aims they were trying to achieve, the result, the impact etc.
Structure of the answerIntroduction – Mention the overall need for land reforms in a country like India. Discuss whether the issue of land reform is still relevant, so many years after independence.
Body – Explain the various land reform measure undertaken by government since independence in brief. Emphasize that digitisation of land reforms despite multiple efforts by government through programmes like DILRMP 2008 etc have been, but breakthrough has been elusive. Explain why digitisation of land record is required. Mention the steps taken by government like Andhra Pradesh towards this end, as well as the opportunity provided by blockchain technology.
Conclusion – Examine whether digitisation of land record would help in resolving the issues related to land reforms and suggest way forward.
General Studies – 4
Topic– Human Values – lessons from the lives and teachings of great leaders, reformers and administrators
8)Discuss the ethical principles of Buddhism as articulated by Gautam Buddha.(250 words)
Directive word
Discuss- this is 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.
Key demand of the question.
The question wants us to write in detail about the ethical principles of Buddhism.
Structure of the answer
Introduction– write a few introductory lines about the Buddhism and Gautam Buddha.
Body–
Discuss in detail about the ethical principles of Buddhism. E.g
- Discuss the Five Precepts (or virtues) and three of the eight points on the Noble Eightfold path to enlightenment- abstinence from: (1) harming living beings, (2) taking things not freely given, (3) sexual misconduct, (4) false speech, and (5) intoxicating drinks and drugs causing heedlessness. Discuss the middle 3 virtues of the noble eight fold path.
- Mention that these imperatives are not to be construed as commandments as in the Judeo-Christian tradition, but more as guidelines for attaining enlightenment. Enlightenment, or Nirvana in Sanskrit, is a state of mind or being in which one simultaneously realizes one’s true identity (which is infinite and eternal), the illusory nature of the world, and perfect bliss and equanimity.
Conclusion- based on your discussion, form a fair and a balanced conclusion on the given issue.
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