[Insights Secure – 2019] Daily UPSC Mains Answer Writing Practice: 17 September 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
General Studies – 2
Topic: Structure, organization and functioning of the Executive and the Judiciary; Ministries and Departments of the Government; pressure groups and formal/informal associations and their role in the Polity.
Indian polity by Lakshmikant
Why this question:
The recent controversies of making Hindi the national language has led to a plethora of talks and speculations and a sense of intolerance in the non-Hindi speaking population of the country.
Key demand of the question:
The answer should explain the relevance of Hindi as commonly spoken language in the country and its evolution to making it the official language.
Directive:
Critically examine – When asked to ‘Examine’, we have to look into the topic (content words) in detail, inspect it, investigate it and establish the key facts and issues related to the topic in question. While doing so we should explain why these facts and issues are important and their implications. 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 brief discuss the context of the recent controversies around the national language.
Body:
Discuss that India is a multilingual country and the states were created demarcating areas having common language. Our constitution also does not identify any language as national language.
However considering the multilingual characteristic of India it is important to have one language as an official and link language for administrative purpose.
Issue of language came up twice after independence.
Explain the origin of official language; relevance of Hindi to it.
Discuss the possible pros and cons and emphasize on the plurality of languages in the country.
Conclusion:
Conclude with way forward.
Topic:Issues relating to poverty and hunger. Inclusive growth and issues arising from it.
2) Do you think it is possible for India to achieve the “Zero hunger by 2030”.Discuss.(250 words)
Why this question:
The article discusses the state of Hunger in the country in comparison with the global hunger rates.
Key demand of the question:
One should analyse where India stand today in terms of eliminating the hunger issues in the country.
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:
Start answer mentioning of the goal Zero Hunger by 2030 by saying that it was the theme of World Food Day 2018. Fighting hunger is a global mission and zero hunger is also one of the Sustainable Development Goals.
Body:
Discuss the situation of hunger in the country. Use data, reports etc. to substantiate. Then discuss about the steps taken by the government to eliminate hunger. Like Poshan abhiyaan, ICDS, PDS etc.
However, there are lacunas. So discuss the challenges in the subsequent paragraphs like focus on rice wheat rather than mille crops, leakage, corruption, failure of biometric in PDS leading to starvation deaths etc.
Conclusion:
Provide for the way forward and the positive outlook that India can achieve the goal the right steps are taken in the direction with full letter and spirit.
General Studies – 3
Topic: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment.
Why this question:
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman recently announced that 10 banks owned by the Government of India will be merged into four larger banks; thus the total number of state owned banks in the country will have come down from 27 (in 2017) to 12.
Key demand of the question:
One must explain what are bank mergers, their significance and effect on Indian economy.
Directive:
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 brief narrate the background of the question.
Body:
Discuss the following aspects in the answer body –
- Explain what is a merger and why are so many state owned banks being consolidated.
- Discuss the various reasons cited by the government for its decision to merge state owned banks.
- Explain the effect such mergers will have on the economy in detail while presenting pros and cons.
Conclusion:
Conclude with significance of such move to the current conditions of the economy.
Topic: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment. Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests, Indian diaspora.
Why this question:
In the early hours of 14 September, ten unmanned drones from Yemen caused severe damage to Saudi Arabia’s oil facilities in the Eastern Province north of Riyadh. The target: the oil processing plant at Abqaiq and the country’s second-largest oil field at Khurais. As markets opened on 16 September, oil prices went from $59 to $71 per barrel, though they eased later after the US announced it would release its reserves to stabilize prices.
Key demand of the question:
One should discuss the recent happenings and the oil crisis that the world countries are facing.
Directive:
analyze – When asked to analyse, 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:
Explain in brief the recent happenings of oil explosions.
Body:
Explain that In West Asia, India has an eight million-strong resident community, whose welfare is of paramount importance not only to the Centre but also several state governments.
Take cues from the article and explain the relevance of it to India and then discuss in detail the relevance of India and its role in the stability of the region.
Conclusion:
Conclude with what should be the way ahead.
Topic: Disaster and disaster management.
Why this question:
As many as 12 people died on Sunday afternoon when a tourist boat carrying 61 persons on board capsized in the Godavari River near Devipatnam in Andhra Pradesh.
Key demand of the question:
The answer must address the underlying causes of the incidence and bring out the lacunae on the part of the government efforts to ensure safer travels across the river despite known possibilities and risks associated.
Directive:
Critically examine – When asked to ‘Examine’, we have to look into the topic (content words) in detail, inspect it, investigate it and establish the key facts and issues related to the topic in question. While doing so we should explain why these facts and issues are important and their implications. 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 brief narrate the background of the incident.
Body:
First explain why the incident occurred.
What were the lacunas on part of the government – Though the boat has license, it was not yet clear whether it had the required permission to ferry tourists since all boat operations in the river have been prohibited because of the flood.
Explain that River Godavari has been in spate for the past few days and over 5.13 lakh cusecs of floodwater was flowing.
Explain that Despite frequent boat accidents in the Godavari and Krishna rivers claiming several lives, no precautionary measures are being taken to prevent them.
Conclusion:
Conclude with solutions that should be provided urgently both in short term and long term to address the situation.
Topic: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment
Why this question:
The article deals in detail as to in what way climate crisis can be addressed better if economies are diversified.
Key demand of the question:
One must discuss the significance of diversification of economy and its impact on mitigating the climate crisis facing the world.
Directive:
Justify – When you are asked to justify, you have to pass a sound judgement about the truth of the given statement in the question or the topic based on evidences. You have to appraise the worth of the statement in question using suitable case studies or/ and examples.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Explain what you understand by climate crisis.
Body:
Explain that the Developing countries dependent on commodities need to diversify their economies to mitigate the increasing climate change risks and achieve the United Nations-mandated Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), according to a new report by the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).
Explain what are the possibilities and in what way Climate crisis poses an existential threat to commodity-dependent developing countries and will result in the collapse of some economies if decisive action is not taken now.
Conclusion:
Conclude with way forward.
General Studies – 4
Topic: case study
Why this question:
The question is situation based and is more like a case study.
Key demand of the question:
One should explain the state of affairs with respect to the Police department in the country. And how as a part of the department you would make efforts to change the perception of the people.
Directive:
Analyze – When asked to analyse, 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 the fact that police are the real guardians of our society.
Body:
Discuss why they are often blamed to be more of power centres than actually being guardians.
Explain what factors you will take into account to address the issues.
Discuss various steps such – addressing the citizen-police gap, gender gap in terms of number of police officials/personnel, sensitize people about the good that the police bring in the society to keep up the law and order situation etc.
Conclusion:
Conclude with what more can be done to make Police a better governing agent in our systems.
NOTE:
