[Insights Secure – 2019] Daily UPSC Mains Answer Writing Practice: 14 June 2019
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INSIGHTS NEW SECURE – 2019: YEARLONG TIMETABLE
Tomorrow’s Static Topic: Development processes and the development industry- the role of NGOs, SHGs,
various groups and associations, donors, charities, institutional and other
stakeholders
General Studies – 1
Topic: Salient features of Indian Society, Diversity of India.
Why this question:
A recent study has revealed that More than 71 per cent of senior citizens in India face harassment or humiliation by their own family members, relatives or children. Thus, it is important for us to analyse the conditions of elders in India with World Elder Abuse Awareness Day approaching on June 15.
Demand of the question:
The answer must address as to what constitutes elder abuse, factors contributing to elder abuse in India, what do you understand by Adult Protective Services and their role in preventing and addressing elder abuse.
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
Start with brief introduction of what is elder abuse.
Body
One can have the following points in the answer:
- Quote facts from survey to depict the current situation – As per the survey, every second senior citizen is being “harassed or mistreated or humiliated by their own family members, children, relatives or others”.
- Then discuss Factors responsible for intentional humiliation include — poor financial status of family, lack of space, interpersonal issues, chronic diseases of older persons, declining moral value system, among others.
- The abuse of elders by caregivers is a worldwide issue. In 2002, WHO brought international attention to the issue of elder abuse. Over the years, government agencies and community professional groups, worldwide, have specified elder abuse as a social problem. In 2006 the International Network for Prevention of Elder Abuse (INPEA) designated June 15 as World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD).
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 solutions to the problem and suggest way forward.
General Studies – 2
Topic: Development processes and the development industry- the role of NGOs, SHGs, various groups and associations, donors, charities, institutional and other stakeholders.
Why this question:
The article discusses national policy for voluntary sector, the question is to appreciate the role played by this sector and how it has been serving as
an effective non-political link between the people and the Government.
Key demands of the question:
Answer is to discuss the significant role played by Vos in the development of the country.
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
In a few introductory lines explain what are voluntary organizations (VOs) – they mean to include organizations engaged in public service, based on ethical, cultural, social, economic, political, religious, spiritual, philanthropic or scientific & technological considerations.
Body
Discuss the following aspects in your answer:
Explain what are voluntary organizations (VOs)?
Their contributions in the spheres of – social, economic and political scenario.
Discuss their objectives ranging from – partnership in developmental policies and programmes, identifying shared goals and defining complementary roles with the government etc.
Conclusion
Reassert the significant role played by them and conclude with way forward and need for recognizing their contributions to the society.
Topic: Development processes and the development industry- the role of NGOs, SHGs, various groups and associations, donors, charities, institutional and other stakeholders.
3) Write a note on role played by NGOs in tribal development with suitable examples.(250 words)
Why this question:
The question is straightforward and is about discussing on role played by NGOs in tribal development
Key demand of the question:
The answer must discuss role played by NGOs in tribal development with suitable case study/relevant examples.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin with brief introduction on NGOs.
Body:
Discussion should cover how NGOs play an important role in development activities for the betterment and upliftment of tribals. how they act as catalytic agents for socialization of people. Their works and contributions in various areas like rural development, environmental conservation, population control etc. all directly or indirectly help and contribute to tribal development.
Conclusion:
Conclude by reasserting their role.
General Studies – 3
Topic: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment.
Why this question:
The article discusses how Global arrangements may not avert local failures and are as likely to be captured by special interests as domestic politics in the backdrop of the US President Donald Trump who has used national security as a justification for his tariffs on steel imports, his threatened tariff hikes on autos and the tariffs he recently vowed to impose on Mexican imports.
Key demand of the question:
The answer must evaluate in detail the contradictions around global agreement vis-à-vis domestic policies and interests.
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, 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 bring out the context of the question.
Body:
Answers must discuss the following aspects –
- The critical challenge of global governance is determining the dividing line between policy domains in which nation-states are free to do as they please and those that are regulated by international agreement. In a world economy that has become increasingly interdependent, pretty much everything that one country does spills over to others.
- What are the reasons to worry?
- Explain the debate around international agreements vs domestic policies in the name of national security, to what extent are they justified?
- Take hints from the article and conclude what measures must be taken.
Conclusion –
Conclude with way forward.
Topic: Environmental pollution and degradation
Why this question:
The conversation in the show discusses in detail the water emergency that the State of Maharashtra is facing and highlights the urgency to look into the water crisis the country is witnessing.
Key demand of the question:
The answer must discuss the water crisis in detail and suggest what needs to be done to resolve the situation and address the issue in a sustainable manner.
Directive:
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:
In a few introductory lines discuss the situation of water crisis currently being witnessed across the country.
Body:
In brief discuss the following aspects –
Following years of drought, the rivers’ currents have ebbed, water in dams and reservoirs has depleted and over-exploitation of groundwater has raised concerns over the long-term availability of water.
Meanwhile media reports claim IT companies in Chennai are asking employees to work from home. The reason being they don’t have water to sustain operations. It has not rained for almost 200 days in the city and Chennai may not get sufficient rain to tide over the water crisis for the next three months. In North India, residents in the arid Thar Desert of Rajasthan are dishing out Rs 2,500 to buy 2,500 litres of water which they share with their cattle.
With the threat of desertification staring Punjab in the face and the state struggling to break away from the ‘wheat-paddy’ cycle, farmers in the state are quickly adopting a five-decade-old scheme to use ‘Underground Pipeline System’ for irrigation.
The union government on its part has created a Jal Shakti Ministry under a full-fledged cabinet minister to try and address the water emergency, but a lot more needs to be done.
Thus conclude by analysing how grave the water crisis is and what needs to be done to deal with the problem.
Conclusion:
Conclude with what more needs to be done.
General Studies – 4
Topic: Public/Civil service values and Ethics in Public administration: Status and problems; ethical concerns and dilemmas in government and private institutions.
Why this question:
Doctors’ protest erupted on Tuesday after an intern at the Nil Ratan Sarkar Medical College and Hospital was allegedly attacked by the relative of a patient who died on 10 June in West Bengal. The state’s health machinery is in chaos since then.
Key demand of the question:
The answer must discuss the moral conflicts involved in such situations; duty vs working condition and security of self.
Directive:
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:
In a few lines describe the situation in the question.
Body:
The answer must discuss the following:
Doctors are envisaged as highly respectable due to their direct link with human lives. Under Hippocrates oath, care of the patient is a contractual obligation for the doctors and is superior to all other responsibilities. From utilitarian perspective, doctors’ strikes are justifiable only if there is evidence of long-term benefits to the doctors, patients and an improvement in service delivery. Despite that, it is hard to justify such benefits against the risks to the patients. Harms that may incur to the patients include: prolongation of sufferings, irreversible damage to health, delay in treatment, death, loss of work and waste of financial resources. In a system of socialized medicine, government owing to greater control over resources and important managerial decisions should assume greater responsibility and do justice to all stakeholders including doctors as well as patients. If a doctor is underpaid, has limited options for career growth and is forced to work excessively, then not only quality of medical care and ability to act in the best interests of patients is adversely affected, it may also lead to brain drain.
Conclusion:
Conclude with solutions.
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:
The question intends to discuss the concept of spirit of service.
Key demand of the question:
The answer must discuss in detail the concept of spirit of service and its significance in public service.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
In a few introductory lines define spirit of service as the quality of being committed to public service without any self-motives.
Body:
Explain that Spirit of Service; This quality in public service makes the foundation of such job requirement. Spirit of service towards the nation and its people is the cornerstone of pub. service and requires readiness to serve in all and every condition. Service to human is service to God – said by Swami Vivekananda gives more strength to this spirit as it calls on the pub. servant to observe public service as having its own sanctity and must find his/her satisfaction in service of the people.
Conclusion:
Conclude by reasserting significance of it in public services.
NOTE:
