[Insights Secure – 2019] Daily UPSC Mains Answer Writing Practice: 22 February 2019
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Tomorrow’s Static Topic: salient aspects of Art Forms, Literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times.
General Studies – 1
Topic– Indian Art and culture
1) Safeguarding the Indian art heritage is the need of the moment. Comment(250 words)
Key demand of the question
The question expects us to explain what constitutes Indian art and heritage, why this heritage is under threat, why we need to safeguard India’s art heritage and the steps that need to be taken for the same.
Directive word
Comment – When you are asked to comment, you have to pick main points and give your ‘opinion’ on them based on evidences or arguments stemming from your wide reading. Your opinion may be for or against, but you must back your argument with evidences.
Structure of the answer
Introduction – Explain about what all is included in India’s art heritage – paintings, sculpture, monuments etc
Body
- Highlight that preserving our heritage is enshrined as a fundamental duty
- Examine the threats to art heritage such as
- Lack of public awareness -This makes the local administrator break the buildings and replace it with other structures.
- Duplication of paintings and art forms
- Theft
- Smuggling etc
- Discuss why it is crucial to safeguard such heritage such as maintaining identity and pride of our country, tourism etc
- Discuss the way forward such as
- Strengthening institutions – Ministry of Culture, ASI, Museums, Archives, etc.
- Cultural awareness programs etc
Conclusion – Summarize on why this issue requires attention and what needs to be done.
Topic- Role of women and women’s organization
Key demand of the question
The question expects us to examine whether the women’s movement of India has failed to successfully address or bring into limelight the problems faced by women of lower strata in India. Thereafter, we need to substantiate our view with examples of such movement and actions taken by the government and its impact on women. We need to highlight the severity of problem and discuss way forward.
Structure of the answer
Introduction – Highlight that women’s movement in India has come a long way since the advent of such movements by the early Indian social reformers such as Raja Ram Mohan Roy etc.
Body
- Highlight the nature of issues faced by the women of lower strata in different spheres such as economic, political, social etc
- Discuss that after independence it was felt that the developmental work being carried out by the government, it was thought, would automatically enhance the status of women. However it was the towards equality report which opened the eyes of everyone regarding the poor status of women that continued to afflict Indian society.
- Discuss the steps taken to improve the status of women and how socially disadvantaged section has failed to take advantage of it
Conclusion – Highlight that the society should be forthcoming to support women and the way forward.
Topic- salient aspects of Art Forms, Literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times.
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 growth and development of the literature during the Gupta age- main contribution, major literary artists and their works.
Structure of the answer
Introduction– write a few introductory lines about the Gupta age and its glory. E.g The Gupta Empire stretched across northern, central and parts of southern India between c. 320 and 550 CE. The period is noted for its achievements in the arts, architecture, sciences, religion, and philosophy.
Body-
Discuss in points the contribution of the Gupta empire towards Indian literature and also mention the important literary figures of the time and their works. E.g
- Sanskrit once again attained the status of a lingua franca and managed to scale even greater heights than before.
- Poet and playwright Kalidasa created such epics as Abhijnanasakuntalam, Malavikagnimitram, Raghuvansha and Kumarsambhaba.
- Harishena, a renowned poet, panegyrist and flutist, composed Allahabad Prasasti,
- Sudraka wrote Mricchakatika, Vishakhadatta created Mudrarakshasa and Vishnusharma penned Panchatantra.
- Vararuchi, Baudhayana, Ishwar Krishna and Bhartrihari contributed to both Sanskrit and Prakrit linguistics, philosophy and science.
- Varahamihira wrote Brihatsamhita and also contributed to the fields of astronomy and astrology.
- Genius mathematician and astronomer Aryabhata wrote Surya Siddhanta which covered several aspects of geometry, trigonometry and cosmology.
- Dhanvantri’s discoveries helped the Indian medicinal system of ayurveda become more refined and efficient etc.
Conclusion– based on your discussion, form a fair and a balanced conclusion on the given issue.
General Studies – 2
Topic: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health
4) Substance abuse is a problem that merits serious consideration in India. Examine. (250 words)
Why this question
The article discusses the high instance of alcohol and drug abuse among Indians which is often ignored. The article highlights the lacunae in our policy and healthcare system which fails to take care of such an issue.
Key demand of the question
The question expects us to explain the problem of substance abuse in the country, highlight why it should be focussed upon, discuss the lacunae in the current system and highlight the way forward.
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 – Highlight the problem of drug abuse in the country and the growing instance of mental health issues that India faces.
Body
- Discuss the issue in detail – government-commissioned survey of substance abuse in the country shows worrying levels of addiction. Highlight the problem of drug and alcohol abuse in the country and the growing instance of it.
- Discuss why this issue merits serious consideration
- huge gap between those who need medical treatment and its availability. Indians tend to look upon alcohol and drug addiction as moral issues. Consequently, addicts are unwilling to seek treatment.
- Social stigma attached to women doing such things makes them even less likely to seek treatment
- The existing centres hardly provide proper treatment etc
- Discuss the steps needed to address this issue
Conclusion – Explain the significance of the problem and why it needs urgent redressal and the way forward.
Topic– India and its bilateral relations
Why this question
The recent Pulwama attack and the role of Pakistan based terror groups in the attack has once again brought the focus on India Pakistan relations and the options before India with respect to Pakistan. The article discusses these issues and examines the potential policy solutions for India.
Key demand of the question
The question expects us to discuss the status of India Pakistan relationship and highlight the potential steps that India could take in the aftermath of Pulwama attack. It expects us to analyze the pros and cons of the decision and discuss way forward.
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 – Explain about the recent Pulwama attack and Pakistan’s role in it.
Body
- Discuss in brief the history of India Pakistan relations and the threats to indian security emanating from Pakistan and its long standing role in Kashmir and exporting terror to India.
- Discuss the options available before India
- Highlight one of the steps that India has already taken by removing the MFN status for Pakistan and enhancing customs duty on goods from Pakistan to 200%, effectively ending bilateral trade. Highlight the impact of the step.
- Highlight Pakistan’s predicament with balance of payment crisis and how India can strike it hard if India succeeds in convincing major shareholders of the IMF — the US, European countries, Japan and China — and international organisations like the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) of the Pakistan state’s involvement in these attacks, an IMF bailout of Pakistan, which looked like a distinct possibility will be in jeopardy
- Debate whether it would make sense for India to wage a war with limited military objective etc
- Analyze the pros and cons of these steps
Conclusion – give your fair and balanced view on how India should respond and discuss the way forward.
Topic– India and its neighborhood- relations.
6) Withdrawing MFN status of Pakistan by India will have little intended impact. Analyze.(250 words)
Why this question
The recent attack on security forces in Kashmir highlights the instability in the region and the role of external threats. In retaliation India has decided to withdraw the MFN status of Pakistan. It is therefore important to discuss the effectiveness of such a measure in terms of the desired effect.
Directive word
Analyze-here we 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.
Key demand of the question.
The question wants us to dig deep into the issue of India’s withdrawal of MFN status of Pakistan and bring out as to why it will only have a little desired impact on the trade relations between the two countries.
Structure of the answer
Introduction– write a few introductory lines about the decision of India to withdraw MFN status of Pakistan and mention about the Pulwama attack.
Body-
Discuss why withdrawal of MFN status will have limited impact. E.g
- It does not strictly fall under the ‘beggar-thy-policy’, often used in international trade through which one country tries to resolve its economic problems by means that worsen the economic problems of its neighbours or trade partners.
- Trade now takes place using three channels: the official route; the illegal (informal) route, through smuggling along porous India-Pakistan land borders and also Afghanistan, which may not be accounted for in the national income; and lastly, through mainly Dubai and Singapore, which have free ports and accommodate legal agents of traders from India and Pakistan.
- Traders carry out informal trade between Pakistan and India through the exchange of goods at the border as well as through the personal baggage scheme’ through “green channel” facilities at international airports or railway stations.
- ‘Informal trade has also taken place through Afghanistan where goods are exported officially from India and later smuggled into Pakistan.
- Also, under the South Asia Free Trade Area Agreement (SAFTA) 2004, Pakistan’s share in external trade is less than 10%, while India’s share is more than 70%.
- Such steps may propel Pakistan to look for new markets beyond SAFTA, corroborated by the recent meeting held with Saudi Arabia and growing prospects of trade through a third country, mainly via Dubai etc.
Conclusion- based on your discussion, form a fair and a balanced conclusion on the given issue.
General Studies – 3
Topic– Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment.
Why this question
Unemployment has become a chronic problem of India and in the recent years the situation has only worsened. In this context it is important to analyze the scenario today in order to get a better understanding of the issue
Directive word
Critically analyze- here we 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. based on our discussion we have to form a concluding opinion on the issue.
Key demand of the question.
The question wants us to dig deep into the issue of unemployment in contemporary India and bring out its salient aspects as well as how public discourse is shaped around it.
Structure of the answer
Introduction– write a few introductory lines about the status of unemployment in India. E.g present some statistics from the Labour reports or any other authentic report like the CMIE report.
Body-
- Discuss about the issue of unemployment in contemporary India. E.g
- mention the unemployment rates in India in recent years- how they have changed but little.
- Mention that the labour force which is the sum of the employed and those unemployed who are seeking employment, has been decreasing in India.
- A shrinking of the labour force is most unusual in an economy with a growing population, and thus a growing working age cohort.
- Mention demonetization and discouraged-worker effect etc
- Discuss the form of public discourse around the issue. E.g
- Employment does not usually figure in the public discourse orchestrated by political parties, either at the Centre or in the States.
- Political parties and politicians have failed in creating gainful employment.
- Discuss the role played by media etc.
Conclusion– based on your discussion, form a fair and a balanced conclusion on the given issue.
Topic– Role of external state and non-state actors in creating challenges to internal security.
Why this question
The recent attack on security forces in Kashmir highlights the threats and challenges in moving forces across the valley. In this context it is important to discuss those challenges and what could be done in dealing with those challenges.
Directive word
Critically analyze- here we 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. based on our discussion we have to form a concluding opinion on the issue.
Key demand of the question.
The question wants us to analyze the challenges involved in the movement of security forces across the J&K region and bring out as to what can be done in this regard.
Structure of the answer
Introduction– write a few introductory lines about the recent Pulwama attack. E.g mention the nature of atack and manner of execution.
Body-
- Discuss in points the challenges involved in moving security forces across the region. E.g
- The national highway NH-44 passes through several volatile districts of Kashmir region.
- At most places, the highway is surrounded by villages and residential colonies. Subsidiary roads connect to these villages.
- Every day, at least four security convoys move on the highway, two from Jammu to Kashmir and two the other way. Movement of convoys increases during summer.
- If movement of civilian traffic were to be halted during convoy movement, it would mean closing each stretch, southern and northern, for at least five hours.
- Also, it would also be very difficult to stop vehicles coming out of different residential areas along the highway.
- Discuss what could be the possible solution to those challenges. E.g
- Briefly discuss option of Airlifting the personnel
- Another alternative route is the railway etc.
Conclusion– based on your discussion, form a fair and a balanced conclusion on the given issue.
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