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[Insights Secure – 2020] Daily UPSC Mains Answer Writing Practice: 06 December 2019
[Insights Secure – 2020] Daily UPSC Mains Answer Writing Practice: 06 December 2019
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General Studies – 2
Topic: Parliament and State Legislatures – structure, functioning, conduct of business, powers & privileges and issues arising out of these.
Why this question:
Rajya Sabha Chairman Venkaiah Naidu on Thursday pulled up members for skipping meetings of the standing committees. He said that only 18 members attended all the 41 meetings of the eight panels since their reconstitution in September last. The reprimand comes in the backdrop of Opposition parties’ constant criticism that the government bypasses all parliamentary scrutiny by not routing key legislations via the standing committees.
Key demand of the question:
The answer must discuss importance of parliamentary standing committees, their key functions, roles and responsibilities and justify their significance.
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:
Define what are parliamentary committees.
Body:
Discuss in detail the following points:
What are Parliamentary standing committees? Their purposes?
Explain why is it in news.
Discuss the role and significance of parliamentary standing committees.
Conclusion:
Conclude with their importance.
Topic:Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes; mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections.
Indian Polity by Lakshmikant.
Why this question:
The question is based on various dangers faced by women and in the backdrop of heinous crimes perpetuated against women.
Key demand of the question
The question expects us to list out the constitutional provisions related to empowerment of women, the various schemes launched for women’s empowerment. Thereafter we need to discuss the impact of such measures and what more needs to be done.
Directive word
Discuss – In your discussion, you need to answer the key demand of the question
Structure of the answer
Introduction
Discuss the status quo of women and why they are considered as vulnerable section.
Body
Explain the constitutional safeguards for women such as Art. 15(3), Art. 23, Art. 39: Guarantees equal pay to women for equal work. In the case of Randhir Singh vs Union of India, SC held that the concept of equal pay for equal work is indeed a constitutional goal and is capable of being enforced through constitutional remedies under Art. 32, art 40, art 42, art 44 etc
Discuss some of the welfare schemes for safety of women, literacy and employment of women, pregnancy support etc.
Discuss that the schemes have evolved over the years from treating women as passive recipients of state generosity to active participants of the development process.
Conclusion
Discuss the impact of these schemes and what more needs to be done.
General Studies – 3
Topic: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of resources, growth, development and employment.
Why this question:
The Monetary Policy Committee of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) decided to keep the interest rate unchanged at 5.15% in the fifth bimonthly policy review, citing inflation concerns despite economic growth continuing to slow down. All the six members of the MPC voted in favour of keeping the interest rate unchanged.
Key demand of the question:
One must assess the reasons for poor transmission of the monetary policies, the implications of not doing so by the banks and the other measures needed
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:
Briefly narrate the background of the issue. between February and August, the RBI cut repo rate from 6.5% to 5.4%. But, the interest rate charged by banks on fresh loans fell just 27% of the amount by which the repo rate came down.
Body:
The answer should cover the following:
Discuss first the role of RBI’s Monetary Policy.
Monetary Policy Process and Goals of Monetary policy.
Current issues facing RBI policies.
What needs to be done to address these issues and challenges?
Discuss the role of government policies is also of prime importance in handling such issues.
Conclusion:
Conclude with a way forward.
Topic: agriculture and issues and related constraints
Why this question:
There is a draft seeds bill awaiting Parliament, which seeks to replace the old Seed Act of 1966. A law regulating seed production and trade is needed to ensure that farmers are protected against spurious seeds, and that seed producers are obliged to put only seeds of good and reliable quality on the market.
Directive word
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.
Structure of the answer
Introduction
One can start off with explaining about the Parliament’s plan to introduce the new Seeds bill 2019 and how the previous two versions had created a lot of heated debates.
Body
Highlight the objectives and provisions of the New seeds bill 2019
Discuss the rationale behind the new Seeds bill 2019.
Discuss the challenges posed by the bill.
- the Seeds Bill insists on compulsory registration of seeds. However, the PPVFR Act was based on voluntary registration. As a result, many seeds may be registered under the Seeds Bill but may not under the PPVFR Act.
- as per the PPVFR Act, all applications for registrations should contain the complete passport data of the parental lines from which the seed variety was derived, including contributions made by farmers. This allows for an easier identification of beneficiaries and simpler benefit-sharing processes. Seeds Bill, on the other hand, demands no such information while registering a new variety.
- And so on.
Provide measures to tackle the challenges posed.
Conclusion
Give a fair and balanced conclusion and discuss the way forward.
Topic: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.
Why this question:
Mankind’s progress has had unintended consequences on the environment. These include climate change, extreme weather events and the reduced availability of potable water.
Key demand of the question:
One has to find the reasons for reduced availability of potable water due to human actions, climate change and extreme weather events.
Directive:
Analyse – 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 off with how Unintended consequences of human progress over the past decades have begun to adversely impact the environment we live in, which provides the basic conditions for life on earth to exist.
Body:
Present the various environmental challenges that is posed to us today like lack of potable water etc.
Discuss how we can get an understanding to our current environmental challenges can only come from studying them in the context of technology, society and philosophy.
Provide solutions to tackle the same.
Conclusion:
Conclude with a way forward.
General Studies – 4
Topic:Attitude: content, structure, function; its influence and relation with thought and behavior; moral and political attitudes; social influence and persuasion.
Why this question:
The question is based on the theme of attitude and its importance in daily life of individuals.
Key demand of the question:
One must discuss the relevance of attitudes of various stakeholders in successful implementation of Government schemes.
Directive:
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.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
What do you understand by attitude?
Body:
Discuss how an individual with positive attitude sees even failure as possibility of having something better.
Having a positive attitude makes one confident about herself and this in long term not only helps an individual but to all those who are associated with her
Explain first that there are various stakeholders involved in implementation of Govt schemes.
Lawmakers/Parliament
Implementers/Bureaucracy
Public at large.
Private entities.
Other stakeholders like NGOs, SHGs etc.
Discuss from each stakeholders’ perspective as to how the right attitude will lead to success of any public program.
Take instances of Swatch Bharat and so on
Conclusion:
Conclude with importance of having the right attitude in life.
Topic: Contributions of moral thinkers and philosophers from India and world
Why this question:
Despite 72 years of independence, the conditions of Dalits still remain deplorable. There is an urgent need to address the inequalities faced. The views of Ambedkar in this regard acts as a guiding light.
Key demand of the question
One must discuss the importance of equality in society. Further discuss the views and contributions of Dr. Ambedkar to achieve the same.
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
Briefly discuss about the issues faced today by the Dalits; STs etc.
Body
Discuss the views and contributions of Ambedkar in various realms.
A pragmatist to the core, Ambedkar believed that in the absence of economic and social justice political independence would not bring about their social solidarity or, national integration.
He advocated the abolition of privileges on the basis of caste or status and vigorously fought for the liberty and dignity of the individual. It the same time, he was equally force-full in his advocacy of the unity of the nation.
Ambedkar sought to achieve these objectives through the constitution of India.
Conclusion
Conclude with what more needs to be done to achieve Ambedkar’s dreams of an egalitarian society.
NOTE: