[Insights Secure – 2020] Daily UPSC Mains Answer Writing Practice: 12 December 2019
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General Studies – 1
Topic: Indian Culture will cover the salient aspects of Art forms, Literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times.
Ancient India Old NCERT History by R S Sharma class XI.
Why this question:
The question is from the static portions of GS paper I and aims to examine the salient features of the popular Bhakti movement of the medieval period and its impact on the growth of regional languages in India.
Key demand of the question:
One must in detail explain the salient features of the Bhakti movement in the medieval period and discuss its role in the growth of regional languages in India.
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:
Give a brief introduction of the Bhakti movement.
Body:
Mention the salient features of the movement; explain the underlying philosophy, methods of propagation, role played by the various gurus etc.
Discuss its role in the growth of regional languages in India; The Bhakti movement promoted the growth of vernacular languages and literature in different
Parts of the country. Quote examples to substantiate better.
Conclusion:
Conclude that Bhakti movement represented a break from the earlier devotional literature, which was mostly written in Sanskrit and Bhakti literature in regional languages played a crucial role in the popularization of the Bhakti movement and espoused spirituality among the common people.
General Studies – 2
Topic: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests
Why this question:
The question is amidst the Political crisis currently witnessing Iraq.
Key demand of the question:
One must explain the situation in Iraq currently and discuss the associated concerns, explain the stakes India holds in Iraq and the role it should play.
Directive:
Comment– here we have to express our knowledge and understanding of the issue and form an overall opinion thereupon.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
In brief give a background of the political crisis the country is witnessing.
Body:
Trace the events over the timeline.
In the late 1970s, Iraq which was endowed with both oil and water, and a relatively modern citizenry, was doing well compared to other countries in the neighborhood.
Ironically, since then, Iraq has endured four decades of near-ceaseless depredations with three ‘Mother of All Battles’, economic sanctions, occupation, and existential duels with al Qaeda and the Islamic State (IS).
Recently, it has been crippled by agitations led by youth railing against the lack of employment, decaying state of civic amenities, and foreign domination.
On December 1, the Iraqi Parliament accepted the resignation of the Prime minister throwing the country into a fresh bout of political instability.
Comment on the stakes that India holds in the region.
Conclusion:
Conclude with what can be done to overcome the crisis in the country while emphasizing on the role of India in it.
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 captures how the Indian criminal justice system increasingly reflects the idea of “power” rather than “justice”.
Key demand of the question:
One must highlight the need for better justice delivery in the country and suggest solutions for the same.
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 judgment.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
First explain the case.
Body:
Explain that the deaths, in an encounter last Friday, of the four accused in the rape and murder of a young veterinarian in Hyderabad (it happened on Wednesday) has revived the debate on the “right to kill”, or “extra-judicial killings” or “fake encounters”, which is the ugly reality of our country.
Earlier, these encounters used to be criticized by the public and media. But in the new and “resurgent” India, we have started celebrating this instant and brutal form of justice.
Explain what actually needs to be done and in what way the changing direction of people’s mindset can be altered onto the right path.
Conclusion:
Conclude with suitable solutions.
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.
Governance in India by Lakshmikant
Why this question:
The question is from the static portions of the GS paper II.
Key demand of the question:
One must explain the significance of Citizens’ Charter in ensuring the administrative transparency and accountability and also comment upon the limitations that come along with it.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
In brief define what you understand by Citizen’s charter.
Body:
Explain first what is the objective of our citizen charter?
Why is a Citizen Charter important?
Citizens’ Charter is a voluntary declaration by a Government agency about its mandate, what to expect by way of services and how to seek a remedy if something goes wrong. In doing so, it aims to realize the principles of transparency, accountability and responsiveness of good governance.
Explain that however, its effectiveness has been limited due to reasons mentioned below-
Devoid of Participatory Approach in consulting stakeholders, Absence of critical information and Lack of Public Awareness etc.
Conclusion:
Conclude by suggesting measures to make citizen’s charter effective.
General Studies – 3
Topic: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment.
Why this question:
The question seeks to examine the levels of competitiveness India stands at owing to competition from China.
Key demand of the question:
One must examine closely the effects of Chinese market flooding Indian markets and in what way it has curbed capacity creation and utilization over time.
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 the context of the question in brief.
Body:
Discuss the following aspects in the answer body:
Explain the relevance of competitiveness in general to an economy of a country.
Highlight the current trends in the world; discuss how the strategies of one country affect the other.
Discuss the case of India and China.
Take hints from the article and illustrate relevantly the context of the answer.
Conclusion:
Conclude with solutions as to what should India do to overcome these challenges.
Topic: Effects of liberalization on the economy, changes in industrial policy and their effects on industrial growth.
Why this question:
The question is in the backdrop of India not joining the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).
Key demand of the question:
One must examine the relevance of globalisation and the limitations it comes with.
Directive:
Examine – When asked to ‘Examine’, we must 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:
In short explain the concept of globalisation, trace the history of its coming.
Body:
Explain what has been the issue with RCEP and India.
Discuss the pros and cons of globalisation.
Explain the effects of trade with China and its implications on Indian economy.
Highlight that India needs to take a hard look at its choices. Creating global competitiveness and doing all that it takes to do so, including abandoning conventional ways of thinking, cannot be delayed. Better-functioning factor markets and reducing costs for businesses are overdue.
Conclusion:
Conclude that Smarter, creative policies for developing and nurturing the nation’s industrial and technological capacities need to be crafted. Economic nationalism and greater ambition is the need of the hour.
Topic: Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics, nano-technology, bio-technology and issues relating to intellectual property rights.
Why this question:
The question is pertaining to the role of Big data in managing disasters.
Key demand of the question:
The question wants us to write at length about the role big data technologies can play in disaster management. What are the areas of application and hurdles if any involved.
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:
write a few lines about the increased incidences of disasters, their relevance for all the nations etc. Also mention that technologies like Big data, AI etc. can play a huge role in helping us manage the disasters in a better way.
Body:
Define disaster management- e.g. Disaster management is a systematic process with primary aim to reduce the negative consequences and effect of disasters, hence safeguarding people and social infrastructure.
Discuss in points, how big data can play a role in disaster management. E.g Big data generated from geo-informatics and remote sensing platforms can contribute to early warning systems for disasters. Geographical Information Systems (GIS), Global Positioning Systems (GPS) and environmental monitoring sensors with cloud services have a potential to predict disasters; Geoinformatics information along with transportation network data can benefit to understand human mobility patterns during disasters; social data sets; financial data sets etc.
Discuss the challenges involved in the process. E.g. Understanding how to link different datasets with different kinds of disasters, early phase of research and application of big data; protection of personal privacy and information etc.
Conclusion:
Conclude with way forward.
NOTE: