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[Insights Secure – 2019] Daily UPSC Mains Answer Writing Practice: 15 June 2019
[Insights Secure – 2019] Daily UPSC Mains Answer Writing Practice: 15 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: Indian Culture, salient aspects of Art forms, Literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times.
class XI NCERT Medieval India
Why this question:
The question is about discussing the role played by Bhakti movement in addressing the social issues.
Key demand of the question:
The answer must discuss significant role played by Bhakti saints and the movement in addressing the social ills, one has to quote examples to substantiate the answer.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin with brief introduction on Bhakti movement.
Body:
Discussion should include the following:
State core principles of Bhakti movement which defied the existing social system and values.
Explain how the beginning of Bhakti movement took place in South India between the 7th and the 12th centuries through the teachings of poet saints known as Alvars and Nayanar whose hymns were collected and compiled in the 10th century. Kabir, Guru Nanak, Mirabai, Surdas, Tulsi Das, Chaitanya are some of the prominent saints of Bhakti movement.
Bhakti saints rose voice against the popular social conventions and evils of that time such as – Rejection of ritualism, criticized casteism, Monotheism, Use of common vernacular languages and local dialect etc.
Quote examples of saints like – Kabir, Gyaneshwar etc.
Conclusion:
Conclude by reasserting their role.
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.
2) Discuss the need for a new legal framework for charities in india.(250 words)
Indian polity by Lakshmikanth
Why this question:
The question is direct and is about discussing the urgent need for a robust legal framework for charities in India.
Key demands of the question:
Answer is to discuss the need for a regulatory legal framework for charities in India.
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 explain what the role of charities.
Body
Discuss the following aspects in your answer:
The multiplicity of charity laws in India has prevented evolution and growth of a proper institutional framework in this sector.
While, voluntary organisations often feel harassed in complying with various legal obligations, institutions of the government too have not been effective in regulating the sector and securing legal compliance.
Instances of misuse of tax provisions, fraud and poor governance have become frequent. There is need to create an effective institutional mechanism which would provide a supportive environment for the growth and development of charities in this country. India being a federal Union, a decentralized institutional setup for charities similar to that existing in the USA, seems to be appropriate. The power of registration and oversight needs to lie with the State Governments.
Conclusion
Reassert the significant role played by them and conclude with way forward and need for recognizing their contributions to the society along with a regulatory legal framework for them.
Topic: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.
Privacy issues associated with it? (250 words)
Why this question:
In a major move aimed at making Aadhaar people friendly, the Union Cabinet has approved “The Aadhaar and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2019” to replace the earlier ordinance.
Demand of the question:
The answer must discuss the salient features of the amendments, Need and concerns associated with the use of Aadhaar, issues of privacy.
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 the act.
Body
One can have the following points in the answer:
- Discuss the background of the question.
- Explain the salient features of the Aadhaar and Other Laws (Amendment) Ordinance, 2019.
- Explain what are the possible issues associated with it
- Discuss specifically issues related to privacy concerns.
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.
Topic: Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate.
Why this question:
SCO Summit 2019 is being held in Bishkek, capital of Kyrgyzstan. Thus its important to ponder on the same from exam point of view.
Key demand of the question:
The answer must discuss in detail the organizational structure, aims and mandate of Shanghai Cooperation Organization.
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 discuss SCO and its coming into existence.
Body:
Answers must discuss the following aspects –
What is it? The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, also known as the Shanghai Pact, is a Eurasian political, economic, and military organisation which was founded in 2001 in Shanghai.
Founding members: China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. The cooperation was renamed to Shanghai Cooperation Organisation after Uzbekistan joined the organisation in 2001.
The SCO’s main goals are: strengthening mutual trust and neighbourliness among the member states; promoting their effective cooperation in politics, trade, the economy, research, technology and culture, as well as in education, energy, transport, tourism, environmental protection, and other areas; making joint efforts to maintain and ensure peace, security and stability in the region; and moving towards the establishment of a democratic, fair and rational new international political and economic order.
Presently, the SCO comprises eight member states, namely the Republic of India, the Republic of Kazakhstan, the People’s Republic of China, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the Russian Federation, the Republic of Tajikistan, and the Republic of Uzbekistan;.
The SCO counts four observer states, namely the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, the Republic of Belarus, the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Republic of Mongolia.
Conclusion –
Conclude with significance of such global groupings.
Topic: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests, Indian diaspora. Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc.
Why this question:
Recently series of explosions damaged two tankers south of the Strait of Hormuz. Making it important for us to analyse the significance of Strait of Hormuz.
Key demand of the question:
The answer must discuss the political and economic significance of Strait of Hormuz.
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 discuss the situation.
Body:
In brief discuss the following aspects –
- The Strait of Hormuz lies between Oman and Iran. It links the Gulf north of it with the Gulf of Oman to the south and the Arabian Sea beyond. It is 33 km wide at its narrowest point, with the shipping lane just three km wide in either direction.
- Why is the strait important?
- What are the associated political tensions around it?
- Narrate the major incidents.
- Discuss the significance.
Conclusion:
Conclude with what more needs to be done.
General Studies – 4
Topic: Attitude: content, structure, function; its influence and relation with thought and behaviour.
6) “Anger and intolerance are enemies of right understanding”, Elucidate.(250 words)
Why this question:
The quote is my M K Gandhi, one has to analyse the quote from the perspective of the GS IV Paper.
Key demand of the question:
The answer must discuss the hidden meaning in the quote, one has to analyse in detail how anger and intolerance make the understanding opaque.
Directive:
Elucidate – Give 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 lines describe a general understanding of the question.
Body:
The answer must discuss the following:
Anger affects the person who is angry as well as all the people who are touched by that person’s anger. An angry person is likely to speak harshly . In addition, anger affects a person’s health. Doctors have discussed the relationship of anger to physiological complications such as high blood pressure. An angry person may also cause both psychological and physical damage to himself or herself as well as his/her family. Sometimes angry people hurt themselves if they are unable or out of reach of the people at whom they want to direct their anger. At other times, angry people may physically hurt their children, or other people.
Later on, explain how one can control anger and intolerance, bring change in attitude.
Conclusion:
Conclude with solutions.
Topic : conscience as sources of ethical guidance
Ethics by Lexicon
Why this question:
The question intends to compare conscience and intuitions as traits with commonalities yet different from each other.
Key demand of the question:
The answer must discuss in detail the concept of conscience and intuition.
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:
The key difference between conscience and intuition is that conscience is the moral sense of right and wrong, chiefly as it affects one’s own behaviour while intuition is obscure. The conscience is understood to be the discerning faculty that exists within each individual. This faculty of discernment that enables humans to distinguish between right and wrong is the basis of our reasoning. If humans could not discern right from wrong then they would not be able to reason whether a matter is right or wrong. The conscience is our internal unconscious faculty that enables us to recognize what is right to do and what is wrong to do. On the other hand intuition is the faculty of knowing or understanding something without reasoning or proof, the essence of intuition appears to derive from the ability to arrive at ideas without the use of reason or conscious perception.
Conclusion:
Conclude by reasserting significance of the two in one’s ethical decision making and everyday life.
NOTE: