New Articles
[Insights Secure – 2019] Daily UPSC Mains Answer Writing Practice: 17 April 2019
[Insights Secure – 2019] Daily UPSC Mains Answer Writing Practice: 17 April 2019
Click on EACH question to post/upload you answers.
How to Follow Secure Initiative?
How to Self-evaluate your answer?
INSIGHTS NEW SECURE – 2019: YEARLONG TIMETABLE
Tomorrow’s Static Topic: Separation of powers between various organs dispute redressal mechanisms and
institutions.
General Studies – 1
Topic:Salient aspects of Art forms, Literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times.
Why this question:
Recently a catastrophic fire has engulfed the famous Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, France. The cathedral, whose name means Our Lady, is the seat of the archbishop of Paris.
Key demand of the question:
The answer must explain in detail French Gothic cathedral architecture. And Notre Dame Cathedral as one of its finest examples.
Directive word:
Explain – Clarify the topic by giving a detailed account as to how and why it occurred, or what is the particular context. You must be defining key terms where ever appropriate, and substantiate with relevant associated facts.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin with what you understand by Gothic architecture.
Body:
- French Gothic architecture is a style which emerged in France in 1140, and was dominant until the mid-16th century. The most notable examples are the great Gothic cathedrals of France, including Notre Dame Cathedral, Chartres Cathedral, and Amiens Cathedral.
- Its main characteristics were the search for verticality, or height, and the innovative use of flying buttresses and other architectural innovations to distribute the weight of the stone structures to supports on the outside, allowing unprecedented height and volume, The new techniques also permitted the addition of larger windows, including enormous stained glass windows, which filled the cathedrals with light.
- The French style was widely copied in other parts of northern Europe, particularly Germany and England. It was gradually supplanted as the dominant French style in the mid-16th century.
- Discuss the specific characteristics of the architecture.
- Explain – Notre Dame Cathedral, its importance as world heritage site.
Conclusion:
Conclude by stating need for reconstructing such a marvel.
General Studies – 2
Topic: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health.
Why this question:
World Haemophilia Day, celebrated on April 17 every year, aims to increase awareness about haemophilia and other inherited bleeding disorders. The day also marks the birth anniversary of Frank Schnabel, founder of World Federation of Haemophilia (WHF). The theme for this year’s WHD is ‘Reaching out – connect to your community’, encouraging to meet and connect with others with similar experiences and know what it is like.
Key demand of the question:
The answer must explain the occurrence of Haemophilia in India, why most cases remain undiagnosed and what needs to be done.
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:
Introduce with context of the question – world Haemophilia day.
Body:
- Explain why majority of haemophilia cases go undiagnosed in India , provide for facts to justify – reports suggest ;around 16,000 haemophiliacs registered in India but actual number could be seven times more.
- Of all the haemophilia cases in India, just around 15% are identified while the remaining go undiagnosed. While there are about 16,000 haemophilia patients registered in the country, reports indicate that the number could be as much as seven times more.
- Discuss the types of Haemophilia in India; reasons causing it.
- What needs to be done – policy level? Individual level and societal level.
Conclusion:
Conclude with importance of tackling such health issues with a dedicated policy approach.
Topic: Separation of powers between various organs
Indian Polity by Lakshmikant, D D Basu
Why this question:
The question is direct from the static portions of GS paper II, it tends to evaluate the concept of separation of powers.
Key demands of the question:
The answer must discuss evolution of evolution of separation of powers and explain how the Separation of Powers is implemented in our nation.
Directive word
Comment– here we have to express our knowledge and understanding of the issue and form an overall opinion thereupon.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction
Introduce by highlighting the significance of separation of power in Indian context.
Body
The body of the answer should address the following dimensions:
- Understanding that a government’s role is to protect individual rights, but acknowledging that governments have historically been the major violators of these rights, a number of measures have been derived to reduce this likelihood. Theory of Separation of Powers is in true sense for the sake of individual liberty .
- There should be a separation among all the three organs of the government. Each department should be allotted to a different set of persons confined to its own set of activities having independent jurisdictions. No organ of the government should discharge any functions which it is not meant to do.
- The theory of Separation of Powers revolves around the idea that, each section of the Government must be confined to the exercise of its own function and it should not be allowed to take upon the functions of other branches. Hence, each branch will be a check to others and so single group of people will be responsible for controlling the machinery of the state.
- Relevance of the separation of power and the associated changing dynamics with examples.
Conclusion
Conclude with significance.
Topic : Dispute redressal mechanisms and institutions.
Why this question:
The question highlights the necessity of a robust online dispute settlement system that is being necessitated by the rapidly developing electronic age of transactions in all spheres of economy , polity and social life.
Key demand of the question:
The answer must evaluate the current systems of dispute resolution available in India, and then examine them why they are not sufficient and thus bring out the necessity of Online dispute resolution system.
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:
Begin with definition of dispute mechanism as a structured process that addresses disputes or grievances that arise between two or more parties engaged in business, legal, or societal relationships.
Body:
In brief discuss –
- The present available dispute redressal mechanisms.
- Their effectiveness in the growing age of technology and digitization.
- Indian scenario.
- Need for online resolution system – quote examples
- Discuss and suggest way forward.
Conclusion:
Conclude with optimism, that India is fast moving and It is not beyond its capabilities to harness the merits of technology in its governance systems.
Topic : Important aspects of governance, Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests
Why this question:
The question is in the context of low rate of deporting fugitives in India, the associated problems with India’s extradition process.
Key demand of the question:
The answer must discuss the lacunae in the India’s extradition process, the low levels of achievements with respect to deporting fugitives. One should suggest what needs to be done to improve the current system of deportation.
Structure of the answer
Introduction:
Introduce by highlighting the alarming situation of extradition process and the lacunae involved therin.
Body:
- The answer is straight forward and must be explained with recent cases such as that of deportation and extradition process in case of Vijay Mallya, Nirav Modi etc.
- Discuss the pros and cons of extradition treaties that India has with different countries.
- What are India’s extradition laws ? – Discuss Indian Extradition Act, 1962 India.
- What are the internationally accepted extradition conditions? In what situations can the government deny extradition?
Conclusion –
Conclude with what should India do is to sign extradition treaties with more countries. That is the best way forward.
General Studies – 3
Topic :Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development.
Why this question:
The article discusses the Congress manifesto that promises to work towards a single GST rate, and to bring petroleum under goods and services tax. Thus it is important from the exam point of view to evaluate such a decision and its merits and demerits.
Demand of the question:
The answer must evaluate in detail the recent controversies surrounding GST, about making it a single rate platform. Evaluate the pros and cons of such a move.
Directive word:
Comment– here we have to express our knowledge and understanding of the issue and form an overall opinion thereupon.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction
Start by explaining the context of controversies surrounding GST with respect to single rate.
Body
- Differentiate between compliance simplicity and conceptual simplicity
- Why is the idea of single rate bad? – complex and diverse society with huge income variations, the idea of a tax rate that is the same for every product, whether consumed by the rich or poor, is bad from the point of view of political optics and equity.
- Explain the complexity of GST structure.
- Weigh the pros and cons of such a move.
- Conclude with what should be done?
ConclusionConclude with way forward.
General Studies – 4
Topic : Emotional intelligence-concepts, and their utilities and application in administration and governance.
Ethics by Lexicon publications.
Why this question:
The question is based on the concept of emotional intelligence and the factors of culture influencing it.
Key demand of the question:
The answer must first elaborate on concept and then discuss influence of different cultures and move on to differentiating how the idea differs in Indian society in comparison to Western world.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Define emotional intelligence,
Body:
- Elaborate on the term – emotional intelligence ; Emotional intelligence can be said to cover five main areas: self-awareness, emotional control, self-motivation, empathy and relationship skills. It is, of course, important for good communication with others – and is therefore a gateway to better learning, friendships, academic success and employment. Skills such as these developed in our formative years at school often provide the foundation for future habits later on in life.
- Influence of culture on emotional intelligence – Given variations in the physical and social challenges facing different societal groups, it is not surprising that intelligent behaviour is defined differently across cultures.
- Traditionally, the West has defined intelligence in terms of the speed and accuracy of cognitive (mental) skills within an academic setting. But successful adaptation in many societies does not translate to the Western notion of academic intelligence. Asian and African cultures, for example, emphasize the relative importance of social skills.
- Discuss while social and emotional intelligence predict effectiveness in culturally homogenous environments, cultural intelligence predicts effectiveness in culturally diverse settings and explains differences in coping and functioning outside one’s home culture. In fact, research shows cultural intelligence is a better predictor of success in diverse settings than cognitive ability, emotional intelligence (EQ), personality, demographics, and international experience.
Conclusion:
Conclude with significance of Emotional intelligence .
NOTE: