[Insights Secure – 2019] Daily UPSC Mains Answer Writing Practice: 12 June 2019
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INSIGHTS NEW SECURE – 2019: YEARLONG TIMETABLE
Tomorrow’s Static Topic: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues
arising out of their design and implementation.
General Studies – 1
Topic: Role of women.
Why this question:
The article provides for a detailed analysis of how public transport reforms can be a boom to Women and their empowerment.
Demand of the question:
This answer must analyse in detail the reforms in public transport and their effect on Women.
Directive word:
Analyse – 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
Start with brief introduction of importance of public transport.
Body
One can start by quoting facts like – Census data from 2011 showed that 45% of women do not even travel for work, meaning that they work out of their own houses. As a result, India has one of the world’s most lopsided ratios of male versus female commuting.
This gender commuting gap may be linked to the gender wage gap, which also really opens up after the arrival of children in the family. If women take work closer to home because of caring responsibilities, they may be less likely to find a job well matched to their skills or with a high-paying employer.Discuss the general challenges faced by women owing o lack of transport facilities.Then move on to explain the effect of policy reforms; explain the case study of Delhi.
Economic Growth: A good transportation system is an important selling point to communities that desire to attract development that provides for employment and growth of a city. If transport costs due to congestion increase, goods and services produced within that city tend to increase in costs thus losing competitiveness in international markets. Efficient transportation access is therefore a very important consideration as it has a direct impact on sound and sustainable economic growth and productivity. The cost of congestion in the Western Province of Sri Lanka is over Rs 20,000 million per year (around 2 percent of Regional GDP). This includes the cost of productive time and wastage of fuel.
Quality-of-Life: To some people, congested highways are a symptom of deteriorating quality-of-life-in a community. The amount of time that is spent on commuting to and from work is also in reality, time that is taken away from social interactions or pursuit of activities that have a personal value and satisfaction.
Conclusion
Conclude with significance of such steps.
General Studies – 2
Topic: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation.
Why this question:
The article discusses in detail the water woes that are unraveling in many parts of the country.
Key demand of the question:
The answer must address the methods and ways in terms of policies that are must required for addressing the water crisis across the country. One must discuss the need for systematic solutions.
Directive:
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, one needs to look at the good and bad of the topic and give a fair judgement.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin with brief introduction on the current water crisis situation of the country.
Body:
- One must quote facts to depict the current water crisis situation facing the country. Studies warn that a seasonal drought is, in fact, a full-blown water crisis, accentuated by poor planning. Groundwater and sand extraction from river beds and basins has turned unsustainable, say many government and independent studies.
- Discuss the causative factors of such drought like conditions.
- What needs to be done at the planning and policy level?
- Take hints from the article, suggest solutions using case studies.
Conclusion:
Conclude with way forward.
Topic: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.
Why this question:
A 50-year-old controversy got a new lease of life recently when a paragraph in the Draft New Education Policy 2019 referred to the mandatory teaching of Hindi in States where Hindi is not spoken. This was a reiteration of the Central government’s three-language formula, but it set off a storm in Tamil Nadu, which stoutly opposes any attempt to impose Hindi and adheres to a two-language formula. The Union government sought to neutralise the hostile reaction by dropping the controversial reference to Hindi.
Key demand of the question:
The answer must discuss in detail the three-language formula, need, concerns associated over imposition of Hindi and the need for reforms.
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:
In a few introductory lines define the idea of three language formula
Body:
Answers must discuss the following aspects –
- Start by discussing the issue and its backdrop.
- Discuss the origin of the concept of the three-language formula.
- What is the entire controversy around Hindi language?
- What are the challenges involved?
- What needs to be done?
Conclusion –
Conclude with way forward.
Topic: population and associated issues, poverty and developmental issues. Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.
Why this question:
On World Day Against Child Labour (June 12) in 2017, India ratified two core conventions of the International Labour Organization on child labour. It now has to double its efforts to ensure that the benefit of those conventions reach the most vulnerable children.
Key demand of the question:
The answer must discuss in detail efforts taken by India in eliminating child labour which is a prevalent social evil even today.
Directive:
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:
In a few lines discuss the state of child labour in the country.
Body:
The answer must discuss the following:
- Provide for data/facts to highlight the conditions of child labour in India.
- as per the 2011 Census, in the age group 5-14 years, 10.1 million of 259.6 million constituted working children.
- Move on to discuss the significance of the ratification of the core conventions.
- Explain what needs to be done?
- What should be the approach?
Conclusion:
Conclude with way forward.
Topic: Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability, e-governance- applications, models, successes, limitations, and potential; citizens charters, transparency & accountability and institutional and other measures.
Why this question:
The article discusses in detail the concept of open data and in what way it addresses the issues of transparency and accountability.
Key demands of the question:
Answer should discuss the concept of open data, its significance, utility to achieve better transparency and accountability.
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. When ‘critically’ is suffixed or prefixed to a directive, one needs to look at the good and bad of the topic and give a fair judgement.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction
In a few introductory lines explain what you understand by Open data.
Body
Discuss the following aspects in the body of the answer:
What is open data? – refers to publicly available data that can be freely reused and redistributed.
Proponents of open data argue that it allows citizens to hold governments accountable and thus drive better service delivery.
In a new World Bank study, Michael Jelenic suggests that this type of open government data could improve both government accountability and service delivery.
Discuss what are the What are the benefits of open data?
Why open data is important?
Conclusion
Reassert the significance of using open data to aid transparency and accountability in the system.
General Studies – 4
Topic:Ethics and Human Interface: Essence, determinants and consequences of Ethics in human actions; dimensions of ethics; ethics in private and public relationships. Public/Civil service values and Ethics in Public administration
Ethics by Lexicon
Why this question:
The question is straightforward and is about discussing the role of institutions in ensuring and promoting ethical accountability in civil services.
Key demand of the question:
The answer must discuss the role of institutions in promoting ethical accountability.
Directive:
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 in brief about ‘Accountability’ in the beginning.
Body:
In brief discuss –
Accountability: Holders of public office are accountable for their decisions and actions to the public and must submit themselves to whatever scrutiny is appropriate to their office.
It helps achievement of ethical standard in the governance system.
What are the challenges in ensuring accountability?
Conclusion:
Conclude with what more needs to be done.
Topic : Ethics and Human Interface: Essence, determinants and consequences of Ethics in human actions; dimensions of ethics; ethics in private and public relationships. Human Values – lessons from the lives and teachings of great leaders, reformers and administrators; role of family, society and educational institutions in inculcating values.
Ethics by Lexicon
Why this question:
Mahatma Gandhi discussed corporate social responsibility (CSR) over several decades of the 20th century. His views are still influential in modern India. The question intends to evaluate the concept of trusteeship.
Key demand of the question:
The answer must discuss the concept of trusteeship and relate it to CSR.
Directive:
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:
In a few introductory lines appreciate the concept.
Body:
Trusteeship is Gandhi’s conceptualization of the contribution of business houses towards social well-being. Trusteeship is a theoretical construct seeking to redefine the relationship between indigenous business houses and the nationalist movement. That Gandhi succeeded in persuading the business men to participate in the freedom struggle, despite adverse consequences, suggests the extent to which Trusteeship was an effective mechanism in political mobilization.
Discuss its importance in today’s life.
Conclusion:
Conclude by reasserting significance of it and provide for ethical aspects associated with it.
NOTE:
